Tropical Storm Helen Halts 24% of Oil Production in Gulf of Mexico

About 24 percent of crude oil production and 18 percent of natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, United States, has been halted due to Tropical Storm Helene. The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported that energy producers have suspended the production of 427,000 barrels of oil per day and approximately 343 million cubic feet of natural gas from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the offshore regulatory body stated that nine oil and gas platforms were evacuated, representing about 2.4 percent of the total platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, based on reports from producers. Oil and gas companies began shutting down offshore production last Tuesday as Tropical Storm Helen moved through the Gulf of Mexico. Federal data showed that the U.S. Gulf of Mexico accounts for around 15 percent of total domestic oil production and 2 percent of natural gas production. Losses in oil and natural gas production have declined for the second consecutive day after peaking at 511,000 ba rrels last Wednesday. Source: Qatar News Agency