As of Monday, August 27, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Albany Herald
This NOAA satellite image taken Monday, August 27, 2012 at 01:45 PM EDT shows a swirl of clouds in the Gulf of Mexico associated with Tropical Storm Isaac as it moves toward the central Gulf Coast. The official NHC forecast continues to strengthen the storm into a hurricane before landfall Tuesday evening near New Orleans. Low lying areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have been evacuated, and the region is preparing for damaging wind, rain, and storm surge. A line of clouds stretching from Texas through the Northeast is associated with a cold front that is providing some rain in the Northeast. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. government says 78 percent of the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been halted in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reports about 1 million barrels per day of oil production has been stopped as companies have evacuated 346 offshore oil and gas production platforms. That's 17 percent of daily U.S. oil production and 6 percent of consumption.
The agency says 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas production is also affected. That's about 3 percent of daily U.S. production and consumption.
Production is expected to quickly resume after the storm passes. The price of U.S. benchmark crude oil fell 68 cents to $95.47 per barrel. Natural gas fell 5 cents to $2.65 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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- Storm update: Isaac aims at north Gulf Coast after raking Florida ( August 27, 2012 )
- Forecasters: Debby unpredictable ( June 24, 2012 )
Comments
Cartman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Of course the market won't react to this - it will over-react. As a collateral benefit, at least it will mean higher gas prices going into the election.
Terry.Lewis 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Hold onto your wallets, people.
Sister_Ruby 9 months, 3 weeks ago
..........therefore local gas stations have immediately increased their prices by 20-cents a gallon on gas that was in their reservoirs last Friday. There's why petroleum will NEVER take a profit loss. They make money coming and also going.
Cartman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
No one is happier about Isaac than gas station owners. If scientists announce that the Mayan end-of-the-world prophecy is true and it will all be over on 12/22/2012 - gas station owners will immediately go outside with their poles and plastic numbers in hand; and raise the price of unleaded gas.
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