Hurricane Rafael Threatens U.S. Gulf of Mexico Oil Production

Tropical storm Rafael has strengthened to hurricane intensity in recent hours and is still set to continue its path toward the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, where oil and gas producers have shut-in production at platforms and evacuated personnel to shore. The late-season hurricane could threaten about 4 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, according to modeling data by energy analytics provider Earth Science Associates. The current projected path of the hurricane could pass through the Gulf of Mexico on a trajectory that…