Harvey tanks exports and production
The hurricane seized up much of the Gulf Coast's infrastructure that keeps oil and fuel flowing to markets
Hurricane Harvey cut the US' exports of crude and oil products by more than half and knocked around 0.75m barrels a day of production offline last week, according to initial data from the Energy Information Administration. Harvey slammed into the heart of America's oil complex on the Gulf Coast, knocking out the refineries, pipelines, pumping stations and ports that are vital to keeping oil and fuel flowing. Refinery runs on the Gulf Coast fell by a third, from 9.2m b/d two weeks ago to 6m b/d last week, amid the worst of the storm. Many of the Gulf Coast's major oil ports were shut down by the storm, and are only slowly coming back to life. Total product exports fell from 4.5m b/d to 2m b/d
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
