Hurricane Milton Intensifies

HOUSTON (Reuters) – At least one oil and gas platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was shut on Monday, and Florida ports imposed restrictions on vessel navigation as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified.

Most energy infrastructure on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including oil and gas production facilities, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, and refineries, is expected to be out of the storm’s path. However, the closure of terminals could temporarily disrupt exports and imports.

Florida was the sixth-largest state exporter of goods last year, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Meteorologists forecast 10 to 15 feet (3.05 to 4.57 meters) of storm surge, with wind gusts reaching 120 to 140 mph, and say over 2 feet of rain is possible along the Florida Gulf Coast where Milton is expected to make landfall, likely near Tampa.

President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Florida.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that the storm is set to approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday after becoming a powerful Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Electricity provider Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) indicated it is mobilizing about 10,000 responders in Florida, readying for over 1 million expected power outages due to Milton.

U.S. energy producer Chevron (NYSE: CVX) confirmed that all staff from its Blind Faith platform in the Gulf were evacuated, and the facility has been shut down. Blind Faith is located 160 miles (257.5 km) southeast of New Orleans and is Chevron’s deepest water development, producing oil from four wells and connecting crude and gas to a platform moored in 6,500 feet of water. Chevron noted that production levels from its other Gulf of Mexico assets remained normal.

The U.S. Coast Guard has restricted vessel navigation since Saturday at most Florida ports, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, SeaPort Manatee, Panama City, St. Joe, Key West, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, and Fernandina.

Large oceangoing vessels, including tugs and barges, already in port or arriving must finalize preparations and safely depart the ports before closure, according to Coast Guard advisories.

Other ports in Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama, which handle oil and fuel imports and exports, including Pensacola, Pascagoula, and Mobile, remain open as of Monday, according to the Coast Guard. LNG facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast are mostly out of the storm’s path; however, the United States exports minor volumes of LNG in ISO containers from the ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, data from the U.S. Energy Department reveals.