Top > World > 2005 > September > 2005-09-26

Rita Damage Not As Severe As Expected

Hurricane Rita proved to be less destructive than her sister Katrina, sparing the states of Texas and Louisiana with less destruction than what was seen in most parts of Louisiana and Mississippi last month. Rita made less damage than expected to the oil refineries situated near the coast of Texas.

It is unknown what affect Hurricane Rita has taken on the oil industry, and although there has been no major destruction reported, the lack of electrical power and wind damage might make an impact on production in the coming weeks. Shell Oil says its 285,000 barrel-per-day Motiva Refinery at Port Arthur "has sustained wind damage including downed power lines and cooling water-tower damage."

?There will be some modest disruption of supplies of gasoline and other products,? said William Veno, an analyst at Cambridge Energy Research Associates. ?But I don?t think it?s going to be as severe a situation as Hurricane Katrina.?