Blitz Bureau
HOUSTON: Francine strengthened into a hurricane on September 10 night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, as it prompted Louisiana residents to flee inland and oil and gas companies to shut in Gulf of Mexico production.
Francine was developing more slowly than earlier forecast but could still wallop the Louisiana coast on September 11 with life-threatening winds, drenching rains and an up to 10-foot (3-metre) storm surge, according to a Reuters report.
Maximum sustained winds reached 75 miles per hour (120 kph) on September 10 night as the storm became a Category 1 hurricane on the fivestep Saffir-Simpson scale, the hurricane centre said. The storm was moving off the southern Texas coast. Its path promises a major test for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants recently built in the region.
Energy companies shut-in 412,070 barrels per day of oil production, about 24% of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico production, and evacuated staff from 130 production platforms, U.S. offshore regulator Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said. Oil producers Exxon Mobil, Shell and Chevron removed offshore staff and curtailed production. Pipeline operator Enbridge also pulled employees from several U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms
