NEW YORK (Reuters) - The spread of a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has raised concerns among some in the oil industry that the slick could hurt energy operations in the region.
A blown out undersea oil well owned by BP <:BP.LO:>Plc is spilling about 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons or 955,000 liters) a day, creating a slick measuring at least 130 miles (208km) by 70 miles.
Traders, analysts and shipbrokers say the spill could eventually slow vessel traffic and hinder refining operations in the key Gulf Coast hub.
Delays in vessel traffic, particularly the tankers delivering crude, can impact refineries in the region. However, many refiners with facilities in the region, including Chevron, Exxon, Marathon, Shell and Valero, have so far said that the spill has not impacted their operations.
Below is a list of some of the refineries in the closest proximity to the spill:
Mississippi
- Chevron: Pascagoula -- 330,000 bpd
Louisiana
- Conoco: Alliance in Belle Chasse - 247,000 bpd
- Murphy: Meraux - 120,000 bpd
- Chalmette: Chalmette - 192,500 bpd
- Shell: St. Rose - 55,000 bpd
- Valero: Norco - 185,000 bpd
- Motiva: Norco - 236,400 bpd
- Marathon: Garyville - 256,000 bpd
- Motiva: Convent - 235,000 bpd
(Sources: Reuters, U.S. Energy Information Administration)
(Compiled by Rebekah Kebede, Reporting by Rebekah Kebede and Janet McGurty; editing by Jim Marshall)
