Storm forces evacuation of 121 platforms as 1.3M daily barrels go offline

Hurricane Isaias strengthened on Friday, 9 October, as it moved toward the US Gulf Coast, forcing the closure of 63% of oil production in the region. The storm, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, has triggered mandatory evacuations in Florida and emergency declarations in Alabama due to life-threatening storm surges and flooding. Energy production suspended The Marine Minerals Administration reported on Friday that energy companies have evacuated personnel from 121 production platforms and five rigs. The shutdowns have removed 1.3 million barrels of oil per day from the market. Natural gas production has also been impacted, with 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, or 57% of the region’s total output, currently offline. Data from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) showed the hurricane packing maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph). Forecasters expect the system to intensify to near Category 3 status, reaching winds of 110 mph (175 kph) on Friday, 9 October, before making landfall late Friday or early Saturday. Coastal warnings in effect Hurricane warnings currently extend from coastal Mississippi through Alabama to the Florida panhandle. NHC director Michael Brennan confirmed in a briefing that the storm was located approximately 355 miles (570 km) south of the Mississippi River mouth as of 1 p.m. US Central time. The region faces significant physical risks, with storm surges projected to reach between 5 and 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) above sea level.…