According to NOAA’s National Hurricane Centres, the first hurricane of the season is expected to pass over the US Gulf of Mexico, and it is possible to make landfall in Louisiana or Texas. The hurricane is expected to pass through the centre of America’s oil and gas industry.
Specifically, the hurricane is to pass through oil majors, such as Chevron, BP, BHP, Shell and Anadarko. Thus, the oil majors announced their plans to evacuate or make staffing adjustments on fixed platforms in the affected area.
In addition, Gulf of Mexico operators have shut 602,715 barrels a day of oil production ahead of the storm, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said in a notice. Almost 500 million cubic feet a day of natural gas production is also shut.
Meanwhile, Chevron reported that it halted operations in five of its platforms in the Gulf and is starting to evacuate all associated personnel. Similarly, Shell halted productions and evacuated ‘non-essential’ staff at seven platforms. Additionally, BP Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp. also began removing offshore personnel.
Yet, Bloomberg highlighted that it is expected to become a tropical depression and later on could become Hurricane Barry.
Bloomberg informed that the Gulf offshore region holds the 16% of US crude oil output and less than 3% of dry natural gas.
