UpdateGustav encroaches upon US Gulf coast

31 August 2008 22:01  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Hurricane Gustav weakened momentarily off the Gulf coast of the US as preparations continued on Sunday to defend industrial facilities against its onslaught.

“Preparation to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the National Hurricane Center warned in a bulletin.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for the northern Gulf coast from Cameron, Louisiana eastward to the Alabama-Florida border, according to a National Hurricane Center bulletin at 1200 Houston time [1700 GMT].

Gustav had weakened slightly to category three on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane grade, with maximum sustained winds near 115 miles/hour (185km/hour), the centre said. However, Gustav was expected to pick up strength to category four again by Monday on its path toward Louisiana state, the centre said.

“Fluctuations in strength are likely thereafter, but Gustav is forecast to remain a major hurricane until landfall,” the centre said.

Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in the path of Hurricane Gustav, according to the governmental Mineral Management Service (MMS) on Sunday.

As of mid-day in the Gulf states, personnel had been evacuated from a total of 518 production platforms, equivalent to 72.3 % of the 717 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, the MMS said.

The MMS estimated that approximately 96.26% of the oil production in the Gulf had been shut-in as well as about 82.3 % of the natural gas production.

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 MMS said.

Some refineries on the Gulf coast had already begun shutdown procedures on Saturday as Hurricane Gustav blasted across Cuba, companies said.

Government authorities ordered New Orleans residents to begin evacuations on Sunday morning, according to news reports. 

After the hurricane has passed, facilities will be inspected.

Shell said its branded fuel stations throughout the US Gulf coast were experiencing a spike in demand as populations were preparing for evacuations.

Valero on Saturday began the shutdown of its St Charles refinery in Louisiana, the energy company said.

ExxonMobil's Chalmette refinery in Louisiana began shutdown procedures on Saturday, the company said.

 

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By: John Waggoner
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