WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Support local, independent journalism on WWNO with your Member Fest gift now! Click the donate button or Call 844-790-1094.

Hurricane Barry Caused Biggest Gulf Oil Drop In More Than A Decade

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
The temporary closure of 283 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Barry, in July, caused offshore oil production to drop by 330,000 barrels per day.

Crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico saw its biggest drop in more than a decade due to the production shutdown ahead of Hurricane Barry earlier this summer, but most consumers likely didn't notice a difference at the gas pump.

As Hurricane Barry approached the Louisiana coast in July, companies evacuated workers and temporarily shut down many of their oil and gas platforms in the Gulf.

According to The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), 283 offshore oil and gas platforms were evacuated. The Bureau estimates 70 percent of Gulf oil production was temporarily shut down.

That translates to a drop of 330,000 barrels per day during the month of July, according to data released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) -- the biggest one-month decline in more than a decade.

Credit U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
/
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
The temporary closure of 283 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Barry, in July, caused offshore oil production to drop by 330,000 barrels per day.

Despite the drop, average gas prices stayed about the same across the country. Why?

For one, Patrick DeHaan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy.com, says 330,000 barrels is only a fraction of daily oil consumption in the U.S.

“It is relatively small. And that’s probably why we didn’t see much of an impact,” he said.

Plus, DeHaan said, gas prices generally have more to do with coastal refineries than the amount of oil production coming from the Gulf of Mexico.

“The U.S. has very ample oil inventories,” says DeHaan. “It also has a strategic petroleum reserve. What can make more of an impact [is] if the storm shuts down refining capacity.”

The EIA expects overall oil production to increase through 2020 in the U.S.

Support for the Coastal Desk comes from the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and local listeners.

As Coastal Reporter, Travis Lux covers flood protection, coastal restoration, infrastructure, the energy and seafood industries, and the environment. In this role he's reported on everything from pipeline protests in the Atchafalaya swamp, to how shrimpers cope with low prices. He had a big hand in producing the series, New Orleans: Ready Or Not?, which examined how prepared New Orleans is for a future with more extreme weather. In 2017, Travis co-produced two episodes of TriPod: New Orleans at 300 examining New Orleans' historic efforts at flood protection. One episode, NOLA vs Nature: The Other Biggest Flood in New Orleans History, was recognized with awards from the Public Radio News Directors and the New Orleans Press Club. His stories often find a wider audience on national programs, too, like NPR's Morning Edition, WBUR's Here and Now, and WHYY's The Pulse.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info