The US crude export hub of Beaumont, Texas, was spared a direct hit from Hurricane Laura, muting the impact of the storm on oil shipping.
Laura made landfall at 2am ET near Cameron, Louisiana, about 50 miles east of the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. The storm hit as a Category 4 hurricane reaching sustained winds of 150mph (241 km/h).
There are power outages throughout Beaumont and reports of fallen trees and debris, but the impact to the area was much lower than expected as the storm veered further east before impact.
Enterprise Products Partners reports minimal impact to operations at its 4.2mn bl marine terminal in Beaumont and no significant damage from Laura, according to initial assessments. Most of the effects are the result of power outages, the company said.
Phillips 66, which owns a 16.8mn bl crude and products marine terminal in Beaumont, said it was waiting for clearance to access its facilities today. The Phillips 66 and Enterprise terminals are both along the Sabine-Neches waterway.
Energy Transfer, which owns a 28mn bl terminal in Nederland between Beaumont and Port Arthur, said it was assessing facilities and that all its employees are safe.
The Port of Beaumont accounted for about 13pc of the 3.2mn b/d of US crude exports over the first six months of 2020, according to monthly Census trade data. Terminals there are a destination for Bakken crude and other domestic grades. In addition, the adjacent Port Arthur accounts for another 2pc of US oil exports.
Meanwhile, marine operations at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) off the coast from Grand Isle, Louisiana, have been suspended since 23 August ahead of Laura and tropical storm Marco, which weakened significantly before making landfall on 24 August. LOOP accounted for about 7pc of US crude exports from January-June 2020. LOOP could be back online fairly soon as the storm has moved onshore.
Meanwhile, the Houston Ship Channel is expected to reopen today with minimal storm impacts in the area. Houston accounted for about 21pc of US crude exports in the first half of 2020.
Kinder Morgan's Houston-area terminals and facilities are returning to normal operations today, including the 7.1mn bl Bostco terminal in La Porte, Texas, and terminals in Pasadena and Galena Park, with no sustained damage, the company said.
The top port for US crude exports — Corpus Christi, Texas — was completely out of the path of Laura. But some restrictions at that port remain from the Chemical basin to the Viola basin after a deadly explosion and fire from a ruptured propane pipeline.
