Hurricane-related shut-ins curb 82% of oil, 59% of natural gas output in U.S.

HOUSTON (Reuters) – U.S. energy companies on Saturday continued to restaff offshore oil and gas production facilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Interior.

There were 122 facilities that were reoccupied as of midday, the data showed. Crude oil production was off 82%, or 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) and natural gas production was down 59%, or 1.6 billion cubic feet per day. (tinyurl.com/yyzyvb3f)

There were 189 platforms or drilling rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico that remain unmanned on Saturday, the department said, down from 310 unoccupied facilities on Wednesday.

U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore wells account for 17% of total U.S. crude oil production and 5% of total U.S. natural gas production.

Hurricane Laura shut six coastal refineries this week accounting for about 12% of U.S. oil processing capacity. Those without significant damage have taken steps to restart operations.