49 platforms destroyed by Ike

[September 19, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Interior Department says at least 49 offshore oil or natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed by Hurricane Ike, and some may not be rebuilt.

It said in an assessment Thursday that the platforms accounted for 13,000 barrels of oil and 84 million cubic feet of natural gas a day. There are more than 3,800 production platforms in the Gulf producing 1.3 million barrels of oil a day and 7 billion cubic feet of gas a day. Most remain shut down.

The department also said five gas transmission pipeline systems sustained damage, although the extent of damage is not yet known. The report said it's too early to say whether there have been any oil spills.

[Associated Press; By H. JOSEF HEBERT]

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