Total US oil output has contracted by a record one-third, or 3.5 million barrels per day and more, as anomalous low temperatures caused disruptions to well operations in Texas, the country’s largest oil-producing region, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
Prior to the winter freeze, the US daily output stood at some 11 million barrels.
Along with causing massive power outages, one of the coldest US winters in decades has forced a number of largest oil companies, including Motiva and Exxon Mobil, to temporarily shut down their refineries, according to the report.
France’s Total has cut crude processing to minimal levels and shut down its Port Arthur refinery in Texas.
The severe weather has also affected companies Occidental Petroleum and Chevron.
On 12 February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration in 254 counties in response to severe weather conditions.
This article originally appeared on Sputnik.