Hurricane Francine Poses Threat to Oil Production in Gulf of Mexico Coast

The U.S. oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico is bracing for Tropical Storm Francine, which is expected to strengthen over the warm waters of the Gulf. Large-scale evacuations and production shutdowns are already in progress as a precautionary measure. The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has activated its Hurricane Response Team to monitor the situation, with personnel evacuated from 130 production platforms, representing 35% of manned platforms in the Gulf. Multiple rigs have also been moved out of the storm’s path.

Tropical Storm Francine is forecasted to intensify into a hurricane over the Gulf before hitting Louisiana, potentially as a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday or Wednesday evening. The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, with tropical storm-force winds projected to extend up to 140 miles from its center. A hurricane warning is in effect for Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain, and the New Orleans metropolitan area in Louisiana, prompting precautionary measures in the region.

Approximately 23.55 percent of oil production and 26.56 percent of natural gas production in the Gulf have been halted as part of safety protocols. Michael Celata, BSEE’s regional director for the Gulf of Mexico, emphasized that the industry’s priority is safeguarding human life and natural resources. BSEE will continue working with offshore operators and authorities until the threat subsides, conducting thorough inspections post-storm before resuming normal operations.

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