FACTBOX : Some oil, gas production halted as US Gulf Coast prepares for major storm

摘要

US offshore oil and gas drillers started shutting production Wednesday as a tropical storm develops in the northern Gulf of Mexico.The US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Wednesday that Gulf of Mexico drillers hadshuttered 32% of oil production and 18% of natural gas output ahead of storm.The weather system has a 100% chance of developing into a tropical depression within 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center said.Forecasters expect it to reach tropical storm strength Thursday evening and increase to hurricane strength by Friday, with landfall near theTexas-Louisiana border.