Hurricane Helene has led to the shutdown of approximately 25% of crude oil production and 20% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported that this amounts to 441,923 barrels per day of oil and nearly 363.4 million cubic feet of natural gas being taken offline.
As Helene intensified into a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph, energy producers evacuated 27 oil and gas platforms, which represents about 7.3% of the total in the Gulf. BP has confirmed that it secured its offshore facilities and is working towards ramping up production as conditions allow, while Shell has begun restoring production at its Appomattox platform and Stones site.
The Gulf of Mexico is crucial for U.S. energy supply, accounting for about 15% of domestic oil production and 2% of natural gas output. The impact of the hurricane raises concerns about supply stability in the region.