Tagged: oil drilling

Oil production is resuming in the Gulf of Mexico and at refineries in the coastal regions hit by Hurricane Isaac. However, power outages are slowing the process.

The state Office of Conservation has ordered petroleum exploration and production companies to take necessary precautions to ensure their sites are secure as Hurricane Isaac nears.

Conservation Commissioner James Welsh said operators of oilfield and related structures as well as pipelines have been directed under the state's emergency declaration to ensure wells and other facilities do not create environmental threats.

The federal government says oil and gas operators continue to evacuate offshore platforms and rigs in Tropical Storm Isaac's likely path through the Gulf of Mexico.

Isaac is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall Wednesday.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says 39 production platforms and eight drilling rigs have been evacuated. That's about 6.5 percent of the 596 manned platforms and 10.5 percent of the 76 rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico.