Gulf of Mexico oil production slowly resuming as Hermine storm hits Florida

Gulf of Mexico oil production is slowly resuming following preventive shutdowns caused by the tropical storm Hermine.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, as of September 1, approximately 15.18 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in. It is also estimated that approximately 9.03 percent of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in.

To remind, at one point earlier this week oil production had been cut by more than 22 percent.

BSEE said Thursday that 10 offshore platforms and one rig remained evacuated. The safety body added that once the storm has passed, facilities will be inspected.

Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back on line immediately. Facilities sustaining damage may take longer to bring back on line.

The latest update by the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows the storm is no longer in the Gulf of Mexico, and has now reached Florida.

In its public advisory, the NHC said Hermine is expected to produce storm total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over the southeastern United States from northwest Florida through southern and eastern Georgia into South Carolina and eastern North Carolina, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches.

These rains may cause life-threatening floods and flash floods. Heavy rain could reach the coastal Mid-Atlantic states from Virginia to New Jersey beginning early Saturday.

Also, few tornadoes are possible Friday morning across northern Florida and southern Georgia. The tornado risk will spread across the eastern Carolinas later on Friday.

Offshore Energy Today Staff