Tropical Storm Lee Cuts Oil and Gas Production in Gulf

By Eileen Fleming

New Orleans, LA – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says evacuations of platforms and drilling rigs means almost half of the Gulf oil isn't being produced, and 33 percent of natural gas operations are also closed. The government says shutting off the production systems can often be done off-site and is standard procedure during hurricane season for safety and environmental protection. The closure amounts to more than 650-thousand barrels of oil a day. After the storm passes, the bureau says facilities will be inspected before they're brought back on line.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.