OAKLAND, Calif. - A strong Category 5 hurricane that tracks
through the heart of the offshore energy platforms in the Gulf of Mexico could
wreck $35 billion in energy assets and cause an additional $30 billion in
operating losses, according to a new report from Eqecat Inc. The company, which
bills itself as an authority on extreme-risk modeling, has developed a computer
model to quantify the risk to U.S. offshore energy production. According to the
company, the model is innovative in its ability to calculate the risk of
disruption of petroleum and natural gas delivery to onshore facilities due to
pipeline damage. Eqecat notes that insured losses are harder to quantify, but
may be as low as $15 billion.
Meanwhile, all signs point to an active end to this year's
hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
has updated its outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, indicating a strong
chance for an above-normal season and predicting 13 to 16 named storms, seven
to nine of which will become hurricanes, and three to five of which will reach
Category 3. The hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) have
seconded that notion, calling for 10 named storms during September, October,
and November, with six becoming hurricanes and three becoming major hurricanes.
According to the National Hurricane Center, from June to August, five tropical
storms and one subtropical storm formed, and one storm, Dean, became a major
Category 5 hurricane. Combining those figures with the CSU forecast yields 16
named storms, seven hurricanes, and four major hurricanes for the full season,
which is in agreement with the NOAA forecast.
NOAA also noted that La Niña conditions are developing in the
Pacific Ocean, creating conditions more favorable for hurricanes.
Publication date:09/17/2007
Report Abusive Comment