When meteorologists merely project a hurricane’s path across an area that produces large quantities of oil and natural gas and has a large refining capacity – like the Gulf of Mexico – consumers ultimately see an increase in gasoline prices due to precautionary shutdowns. If the actual path of a storm wreaks havoc, the end result is a sharp spike in prices.
According to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, at the peak of the storm about 22 percent of the Gulf’s oil production and 26 percent of its natural gas production had been shut in, equating to approximately 379 thousand barrels of oil and 827.89 million cubic feet of gas per day. Since then, wells have steadily come back online, decreasing the production impact.
The Gulf area is also home to about one-third of the nation’s capacity for refining oil products. Within Harvey’s path, S&P Global Platts has tracked 11 refineries that have been shut down, reducing processing capacity by 2.33 million barrels of oil per day. Additionally, S&P tallies seven plants with reduced production rates, reducing capacity by 1.03 million barrels per day.
AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano noted that, “Spikes in pump prices due to the effects of hurricanes tend to be brief but dramatic.” Less than a week after Harvey made landfall, AAA has reported an increase in the national average gas price to about $2.37, one of the largest surges this summer over such a short timeframe. Analysts are predicting that gas prices may continue to increase between five and 15 cents across the country in upcoming weeks.
As Harvey continues to cause problems in Texas, refineries begin to evaluate the damage inflicted on their facilities. Until the full impact is known and refineries can return to full operations, the ultimate end effect on gas prices is unknown.
You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours
The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].
Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.
This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. Cookies assist in navigation, analyzing traffic and in our marketing efforts as described in our Privacy Policy.