Hurricane “Ida” among the costliest for oil production since 2005
Image credit: Port Fourchon
Gulf of Mexico oil producers are still struggling to restart operations after the devastating impact made by Category 4 Hurricane "Ida" on August 29, 2021. With Port Fourchon still in 'Recovery Phase' and the majority of the region's offshore production shut, U.S. crude futures have risen more than 10% since August 29.
Nearly 79% of the region's offshore oil production remains shut and 80 production platforms are still unoccupied.1
According to Facts Global Energy, nearly 18 million barrels of oil have been lost to the market, and the company fears that could rise to 30 million before the end of the year. "Still, that's far less than the 162 million barrels lost in a three-month period in 2005 after back-to-back hurricanes Katrina and Rita."
The slow progress in restoring production drove oil prices higher Wednesday, September 8.
U.S. crude futures have risen more than 10% since August 29 when Hurricane "Ida"2 made a direct hit to Port Fourchon, the most important oil and gas hub in the Gulf of Mexico, causing extensive damage and putting the facility in 'Recovery Phase.' Ida's impacts to Port Fauchron included extreme and hurricane-force winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph) and a storm surge of 3.6 to 4.3 m (12 – 14 feet) in places.
As of September 8, Port Fourchon was still in the 'Recovery Phase.'3
Image credit: Port Fourchon
Port authorities said the Lafourche Parish Water District is planning to start sending water to Fourchon on September 9, 2021. Because it may take a day to build up water pressure to adequate levels for mass usage, tenants are asked to keep their facilities' 2” water meters closed for the next 48 hours. That will help to restore water supply for all port users.
Bayou Lafourche is closed north of Leeville per US Coast Guard. This portion of Bayou Lafourche north of the port is closed to marine traffic due to multiple obstructions in the channel, especially between the Ted Gisclair Floodgate in Larose and the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow.
NOAA Coast Survey is finalizing the survey process in Bayou Lafourche but is working with limited access due to shoaling and obstructions throughout the channel from Leeville to Larose.
References:
1 U.S. oil losses from Hurricane Ida rank among worst in 16 years – Reuters
2 Category 4 Hurricane "Ida" hits Louisiana on Katrina's 16th anniversary, leaves more than 1 million homes without power – The Watchers
3 Port Fourchon – FB
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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