Hurricane Harvey’s path could hit oil refineries in Texas — Quartz
Hurricane Harvey is gaining steam, and is set for landfall on the coast of Texas late tonight (Aug. 25). By then it is expected to have gained the power of a category 3 hurricane, which would destroy poorly constructed houses , severely damage apartment buildings and shopping centers, and leave large areas without water and electricity for days or even weeks. But its effect on the energy industry is what many will be watching. The federally- controlled offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico produce 17% of the US’s total crude oil output , while around half the US’s petroleum and natural gas refining capacity is situated along the gulf coast. Houston, some 30 miles (48 km) inland, is home to the country’s largest refinery and petrochemical complex . As ProPublica and the Texas Tribune reported last year, a direct hit from a big storm would cause enormous damage , not just economic but also environmental, since the complex stores huge quantities of dangerous chemicals. As well as ...