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New Orleans cargo traffic set to resume as Barry weakens

The port of New Orleans opened to some traffic Sunday and was expected to resume normal cargo operations Monday as Tropical Storm Barry headed further inland.

The storm was expected to weaken to a tropical depression later Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Water levels along the southern coast of Louisiana are gradually receding, but minor coastal flooding is possible.

“Barry is expected to produce rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over south-central Louisiana, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches,” the NHC said Sunday.

More oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico was reported offline Sunday, but operators are expected to start the process of evaluating the status of their offshore platforms with an eye toward resuming production.

Approximately 73% of oil production, or 1,376,265 b/d, has been halted in the Gulf as of Sunday, according to the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

About 62%, or 2,780 Bcf/d, of natural gas output has been shut in, BSEE said.

ExxonMobil said it has begun the process of determining if any of its offshore or onshore facilities have been damaged by the storm.

BSEE said all offshore facilities will be inspected once the storm has passed.

“Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back online immediately,” BSEE said.

The US Coast Guard opened the lower Mississippi River to all traffic, with some restrictions.

“The Inner Harbor Navigational Canal Lock remains closed and is expected to be opened this evening. All flood gates along the Mississippi River should be opened by this afternoon,” the port said in an update on its website.

The port said it expects “normal weekday” cargo operations to resume Monday.

REFINERIES

ExxonMobil said Sunday that its 502,500 b/d Baton Rouge refinery, chemical plant and Sorrento terminal are “operating as normal.”

Phillips 66 said it is preparing for start-up activities at its 294,700 b/d Alliance refinery to start Monday.

“There have been no significant impacts to the Alliance Refinery after Hurricane Barry made landfall yesterday,” the company said Sunday. “While ordinary operations were shut down for the storm, utilities at the facility remained active to allow for these activities to begin as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Source: Platts

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