Related News
Shell begins pulling US Gulf workers due storm
Source: Agencies |
June 27, 2010, Sunday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
SHELL Oil Co said non-essential workers from production platforms and drilling rigs in US-regulated areas of Gulf of Mexico oilfields were being evacuated yesterday due to the forecast path of Tropical Storm Alex.
The storm, which was close to Belize late yesterday, was not expected to complicate efforts to contain BP Plc's blown-out undersea oil well about 40 miles (64 km) south of the Louisiana coast, said the top US oil spill official.
"We understand it's moving westerly at this time and does not threaten the site," said US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen at a yesterday news conference. "We don't have any indication that we would reach gale-force winds at the well-bore as the storm passes."
Gale-force winds, which are 39 miles per hour (62 kph) or stronger, would force the evacuation of vessels and personnel working to contain the oil spill and leave the well gushing uncontrollably for 14 days, Allen said. Two weeks is the time needed to disconnect and reconnect the containment systems.
Alex was also forecast to miss the heart of US oil operations off the Louisiana coast.
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the United States' only offshore oil port able to take more than 1 million barrels of crude from tankers, was operating normally yesterday.
"We're not doing anything differently, except watching it closely," said LOOP spokeswoman Barb Hestermann.
Exxon Mobil Corp said its Gulf operations were normal yesterday as it monitored the storm's progress.
Chevron Corp said none of its production had been affected by Alex.
Most forecasts show Alex entering the southern Gulf of Mexico today and making landfall near Tampico, Mexico, as a minimal hurricane on Thursday.
One forecast, though, shows the storm crossing the southwest corner of the US offshore oil patch off the Texas coast, where Shell has offshore operations.
About 300 workers will be removed from the Gulf yesterday, Shell said in a statement. The company expects minimal impact to its oil, natural gas production and drilling operations.
The Gulf of Mexico provides about a quarter of US crude oil and 11 percent of the country's natural gas.
The storm, which was close to Belize late yesterday, was not expected to complicate efforts to contain BP Plc's blown-out undersea oil well about 40 miles (64 km) south of the Louisiana coast, said the top US oil spill official.
"We understand it's moving westerly at this time and does not threaten the site," said US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen at a yesterday news conference. "We don't have any indication that we would reach gale-force winds at the well-bore as the storm passes."
Gale-force winds, which are 39 miles per hour (62 kph) or stronger, would force the evacuation of vessels and personnel working to contain the oil spill and leave the well gushing uncontrollably for 14 days, Allen said. Two weeks is the time needed to disconnect and reconnect the containment systems.
Alex was also forecast to miss the heart of US oil operations off the Louisiana coast.
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the United States' only offshore oil port able to take more than 1 million barrels of crude from tankers, was operating normally yesterday.
"We're not doing anything differently, except watching it closely," said LOOP spokeswoman Barb Hestermann.
Exxon Mobil Corp said its Gulf operations were normal yesterday as it monitored the storm's progress.
Chevron Corp said none of its production had been affected by Alex.
Most forecasts show Alex entering the southern Gulf of Mexico today and making landfall near Tampico, Mexico, as a minimal hurricane on Thursday.
One forecast, though, shows the storm crossing the southwest corner of the US offshore oil patch off the Texas coast, where Shell has offshore operations.
About 300 workers will be removed from the Gulf yesterday, Shell said in a statement. The company expects minimal impact to its oil, natural gas production and drilling operations.
The Gulf of Mexico provides about a quarter of US crude oil and 11 percent of the country's natural gas.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
