Tropical Storm Debby Cuts Oil-And-Gas Output In Gulf Of Mexico

With Tropical Storm Debby more or less dead in the water of the central Gulf of Mexico, oil-and-gas operators have evacuated at least nine production platforms -- equivalent to 1.5 percent of the 596 manned platforms there -- according to the U.S. Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, or BSEE.

The O&G operators also have evacuated at least one drilling rig -- equivalent to 1.4 percent of the 70 rigs operating at present in the Gulf of Mexico -- the BSEE reported, citing data submitted to it by the operators as of Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CDT (12:30 p.m. EDT).

Based on the O&G operators' reports, the BSEE estimates about 7.8 percent of the current daily oil production and about 8.16 percent of the current daily natural-gas production are now shut-in. This equals about 107,602 barrels of oil per day and about 367 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

In conjunction with the evacuation process, O&G operators activate the applicable shut-in procedures, which can frequently be done at a remote location. This involves closing subsurface safety valves located below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico's floor to prevent the release of oil or gas.

Shutting-in O&G production during significant storms is a standard procedure conducted by the industry for both environmental and safety reasons.

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The BSEE will bring its evacuation and shut-in statistics up-to-date daily for the duration of the storm.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Debby's heavy squalls are lashing southwestern Florida, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The NHC described the maximum sustained winds as 50 mph.

A tropical-storm warning is in effect for the coast of Louisiana from the mouth of the Pearl River westward to Morgan City -- excluding New orleans and Lake Pontchartrain -- the NHC reported. A tropical-storm warning means that tropical-storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours, the NHC said.

In this case, the NHC anticipates tropical-storm wind conditions may first reach the coast within the warning area by Sunday night. It expects a storm surge of between one and three feet in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Along portions of the Gulf Coast, rain accumulations ranging from 3 to 6 inches are probable, and isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches are possible, the NHC reported. It mentioned isolated tornadoes are also a threat.

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