Impact of hurricanes on heating oil supplies 'uncertain': EIA

Washington (Platts)--2Nov2005

The full impact on heating oil supplies remains uncertain following  
damage to US Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast infrastructure from hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

     "While solid progress in post-hurricane repairs to infrastructure has
occurred, it remains unclear at this time when, or even if, a full recovery to
pre-hurricane status will be possible prior to the onset of severe winter
weather," according to EIA's This Week in Petroleum.

     Heating oil inventories in New England "seem more than abundant as they
are well above the average range for this time of year," the report said. 
However, distillate fuel inventories at the national level and the
critical Gulf Coast region "remain at or below the average range," EIA said.

    In addition, inventories of diesel fuel, often used to supplement
heating oil supplies, "stand at much less than comfortable levels," EIA said.

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