WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 Hurricane Isaias had not yet made landfall Friday morning, but the powerful storm was already disrupting a major source of U.S. oil \u2014 creating the potential for another factor to affect fuel prices in South Florida.<\/p>\n
The Marine Minerals Administration, the federal agency overseeing offshore energy operations, said nearly 63% of current daily oil production<\/a> in the Gulf of America had been shut in as operators moved workers and equipment out of the storm\u2019s path. That amounted to 1,282,879 barrels per day, according to the agency\u2019s latest report. It also reported that 121 offshore platforms and five rigs had been evacuated.<\/p>\n The shutdown followed a sharp increase from Wednesday, when about 25% of Gulf oil production was offline. The Gulf region accounts for a significant share of U.S. oil production, and the ultimate impact on drivers will depend not only on how quickly offshore production resumes, but also on whether refineries, ports and fuel-distribution infrastructure sustain disruptions.<\/p>\n Isaias strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane Friday<\/a> with sustained winds of 120 mph. The National Hurricane Center forecast landfall late Friday along the Alabama-Florida line, with dangerous storm surge, heavy rain, high winds and possible tornadoes across parts of the Panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi. <\/p>\n See also: Hurricane Isaias strengthens into major Category 3 storm near Florida Panhandle<\/a><\/p>\n