Two years after Katrina and Rita, oil production in the Gulf has still not recovered.

Two years after Katrina and Rita, oil production in the Gulf has still not recovered. Although some of the lost production is due to the natural decline rates associated with an aging field, the current 12.5 percent decline from the 2005 peak primarily stems from the hurricanes’ damage to energy production infrastructure.

“The hurricanes so changed the underwater topography that pipe repairs are still ongoing,” Stratfor reported. “There is the distinct possibility that a full recovery is not going to happen” (August 16).

Another storm season like 2005 could be catastrophic for the United States.

The Gulf of Mexico is America’s last major energy production region. No known resources exist within American territory to replace it. The most generous estimates for the Alaskan wildlife refuges put production capacity at less than one third that of the Gulf.

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