Oil producers have evacuated workers from 279 offshore platforms in the US Gulf of Mexico due to Hurricane Delta on October 8. The producers, including Shell, BP, BHP, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum, have shut down about 1.69 million bpd or 92% of the region’s oil output and 1.67 Bcfd or 62% of its natural gas production. Some of them have also moved 15 drilling rigs away from the hurricane’s winds.
Delta is steaming across the US Gulf of Mexico and moving toward Louisiana at 13 mph (21 kph). It is expected to make landfall in southwest Louisiana by Friday evening after strengthening into a major powerful hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 kph). The disruptions led to an increase in US energy prices, with crude oil futures rising by 3%, while both natural gas and gasoline futures increasing by 2.6%.
Onshore, processing plants have begun securing their operations. Shell’s refineries in Convent, Geismar, and Norco in Louisiana have prepared for the storm’s arrival. Total was reportedly preparing to shut down its Port Arthur refinery. Meanwhile, Cameron LNG halted natural gas processing ahead of Delta’s arrival.
