Texas is in the midst of a major emergency due to the fallout from Hurricane Harvey.
The storm made landfall over the weekend but was quickly downgraded to a tropical storm.
However it has still caused extensive damage and killed at least five people.
Here’s what we know so far about how it has been affecting the region’s major oil and gas industry.
Exxon Mobil shuts down Baytown refining complex
Exxon Mobil is in the process of shutting down the nation’s second-largest refining complex in Baytown in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
The Baytown campus, which also produces petrochemicals, can churn through up to 560,000 barrels of oil a day to produce fuel. The refinery is a major source of the Gulf Coast and nation’s gasoline supplies. Baytown also serves as a major petrochemical hub that’s undergoing a massive expansion.
“Safety is our first priority, and we have taken all the precautions to minimize impact to community and employees throughout the shutdown process,” Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Suann Guthrie said.
Previously, refineries were shuttered temporarily in Corpus Christi by Valero Energy, Citgo Petroleum and Flint Hills Resources before Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Now, some of the Houston refining corridor is beginning to close.
More than 25 percent of the nation’s fuel supplies are produced along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Chevron Phillips closing massive Baytown chemical complex
Chevron Phillips shut down its massive Cedar Bayou petrochemical complex in Baytown on Sunday as flooding overtook much of the Houston region.
Chevron Phillips is undergoing a sitewide shutdown of one of the nation’s largest chemical campuses, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The plant is currently undergoing a $6 billion expansion that’s scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.
The facility is scheduled to be closed through Sept. 6, according to the state panel.
The chemical company is a joint venture between Chevron and Houston’s Phillips 66.
The news follows confirmations from Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell that they’re temporarily halting operations in Baytown and Deer Park, respectively.
Shell halts operations at Deer Park refinery
Royal Dutch Shell said Sunday the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is causing the shutdown of its massive refining and petrochemical complex in Deer Park.
Shell is closing one of Texas’ largest refineries, which can refine more than 315,000 barrels of crude oil a day into gasoline and other petroleum products.
“The top priority of Shell Deer Park is to operate in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Due to continued inclement weather conditions from Hurricane Harvey, Shell Deer Park is conducting a controlled/planned shut down of the refinery and chemical plant,” Shell said in an email response.
The move comes just after Exxon Mobil said it’s temporarily closing the nation’s second-largest refinery in Baytown.
The Texas Gulf Coast produces more than 25 percent of the nation’s gasoline and these shutdowns are expected to lead to fuel price spikes and potential shortages.
This first appeared on the Houston Chronicle – an Energy Voice content partner. For more click here.