US oil producers are keeping a close eye on what the US National Hurricane Center is calling Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen, S&P Global Platts reported on Thursday. The NHC has advised that tropical storm force winds are likely along parts of the north-central and northeastern Gulf Coast. The winds are expected to cover a large area, and should begin well in advance of the arrival of the center, the NHC said. Occidental Petroleum, for one, is already removing non-essential personnel from its operations in eastern and central US Gulf of Mexico, but its operations for now remain operational. Hess and Exxon ... (full story)