Gasoline shortages, price hikes likely to ease by next week

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Texas gasoline shortages and price hikes could ease next week now that most major Gulf Coast refineries are restarting after Hurricane Harvey, an industry analyst says.

The storm forced operations to stop at more than a dozen oil refineries that churn out nearly 25 percent of the nation's fuel supply. Now only four remain halted.

The returning refining capacity should help most gas stations restock within a week, said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, adding that higher prices will linger.

Prices on average have risen by 40 cents a gallon in the Houston area and nearly 60 cents in Dallas since before Harvey made landfall Aug. 25 north of Corpus Christi.

The only major refineries still offline are Phillips 66 in Sweeny, Royal Dutch Shell in Deer Park, Exxon Mobil in Beaumont and Paris-based Total in Port Arthur.


More (Including aerial photos): http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/All-but-four-major-refineries-are-beginning-to-12177013.php



The Phillips 66 refinery near Sweeny is one of the few still offline after Hurricane Harvey.