Hurricane Beryl Threatens Texas Ports and Oil Supplies
The US Coast Guard has warned that Texas ports from Corpus Christi to Houston could shut down as Tropical Storm Beryl ramps up into a hurricane. The storm risks halting crude oil shipments to refineries and disrupting motor fuel supplies across the region.
Ports Brace for Impact with Restrictions and Evacuations
On Saturday, the Coast Guard captain of Corpus Christi declared port condition “Yankee,” restricting vessel movements across ports from Matagorda Bay, southwest of Houston, all the way to the US-Mexico border.
Citgo Petroleum is already cutting production at its 165,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Corpus Christi, running operations at minimum capacity as Beryl approaches Port Lavaca on the Texas coast.
Meanwhile, Shell has evacuated workers from its Perdido and Whale Gulf of Mexico production platforms, shutting down operations ahead of the storm’s arrival. Gibson Energy says its Corpus Christi terminal remains operational but is gearing up for potential shutdowns depending on the storm’s path.
Storm’s Track Could Slam Gulf’s Vital Oil Output
As of Saturday, Beryl’s winds hit near 60 mph (95 km/h). Forecasts suggest Corpus Christi might be on the storm’s dry side, but gale-force winds are expected nonetheless, forcing possible traffic restrictions or port closures.
Most offshore oil and gas production in the northern Gulf lies east of Beryl’s track. The Gulf accounts for about 1.8 million barrels per day—roughly 14% of US crude output. Any disruption could spike oil prices and squeeze supplies.
Chevron reports normal production but has evacuated non-essential staff from some Gulf facilities. Murphy Oil is still fully operational, keeping a close eye on Beryl’s progress.
Industry On High Alert as Hurricane Beryl Approaches
The situation is fluid and fast-moving. Energy firms and authorities remain ready to ramp up precautionary measures as Hurricane Beryl barrels towards the Texas coastline, threatening vital energy infrastructure and fuel supplies.
