Tropical Storm Arlene did little more than lightly pinch oil and natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) over the weekend, and most of the shut-in production has been restored, with minimal damage to platforms and rigs, according to offshore operators.

As of midday Monday, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) reported that shut-in gas production was equivalent to 3.85% of daily output, with the cumulative amount of shut-in gas production between Friday and Monday estimated at 3.279 Bcf, equivalent to 0.083% of the annual production of 3.94 Tcf. Current GOM gas production is 10.8 Bcf/d.

Shut-in oil production was estimated at 3.87%, with the cumulative shut-in oil production between Friday and Monday estimated at 561,625 bbl, equivalent to 0.106% of the yearly production of 529 million bbl. Current oil output is 1.46 million bbl/d.

The MMS reported that 28 platforms and four rigs were evacuated, equal to 3.42% of 819 manned platforms and 3.57% of 140 rigs currently operating in the GOM.

Summing up Arlene’s impact, Citigroup’s Kyle Cooper said, “Arlene had very little effect on the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations.”

An El Paso spokesman said the 80 MMcf/d it cut last week was back on Monday, with no problems reported on any of its pipelines. Williams’ Transco, which shut in 150 MMcf/d, and Gulfstream, which cut 50 MMcf/d, also were operating at normal capacity with no damage.

Duke’s Texas Eastern, which shut in 130 MMcf/d last Friday, was expected to be operating at full capacity by late Monday.

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