Key facts
- Chevron is shutting down production at its Petronius platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico due to Tropical Depression Two.
- Personnel are being moved onshore from Petronius, Tubular Bells, and Blind Faith platforms.
- The storm is expected to strengthen and could cause significant oil production losses.
- The U.S. Gulf of Mexico federal offshore region produces approximately 14% of total U.S. crude output.
- CenterPoint Energy has activated its Emergency Operations Center to prepare for potential outages.
Chevron is taking precautionary measures by shutting in production at its Petronius facility in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and relocating personnel ahead of Tropical Depression Two, which is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha. The company is also moving nonessential staff from its Tubular Bells and Blind Faith platforms, while other Gulf assets remain at normal operational levels.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch for a stretch of the Gulf Coast, anticipating 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, with isolated higher amounts. Consulting firm Earth Science Associates forecasts a potential loss of about 2 million barrels of oil across the U.S. Gulf due to the storm, significantly more than what was impacted by Tropical Storm Arthur last month, as higher-production platforms are in the storm's projected path.
The U.S. Gulf of Mexico federal offshore region is a significant contributor to national oil output, producing nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil per day in March, representing about 14% of the total U.S. crude output. Major operators in the deepwater region include Shell, BP, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum. Additionally, the region's refining corridor, extending from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Pascagoula, Mississippi, accounts for approximately half of the United States' total refining capacity.
In preparation for the storm's potential impact on the Greater Houston area by Friday, utility company CenterPoint Energy has activated its Emergency Operations Center. The company stated that its crews are prepared to respond to and restore power as quickly and safely as possible in the event of weather-related outages.