Harvey Strikes Employment: CB&I Lays Off Hundreds
The effects of Hurricane Harvey, the catastrophic storm that caused unprecedented rainfall and flooding in Southeast Texas, are still being felt – including in the form of energy employment.
In a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) dated Sept. 21, CB&I, an engineering, procurement and construction company that serves oil and gas, chemicals, power and industrial storage markets, said it’s being forced to close its Fabrication Services Shop in Beaumont (Island Park) due to “sustained irreparable damage” from Harvey’s rainfall and flooding.
The company is permanently closing the entire facility, which resulted in the layoffs of 455 employees, most of them terminated Sept. 21.
“Based upon the information provided by weather reporting services prior to the hurricane making landfall and its effects being felt immediately, CB&I had no way of knowing or anticipating the hurricane would impact the Beaumont (Park Island) site,” the letter states. “It was only after the flooding subsided and law enforcement officials permitted access to the area that the company was able to access the site and complete a full assessment of the nature and extent of the damage. Given this natural disaster and these unforeseen circumstances caused by the natural disaster, CB&I was unable to provide any prior notice of the Beaumont (Park Island) site’s closure to employees at the site.”
The letter went on to say that CB&I “truly regrets” having to lay off employees and close the facility.
CB&I spokesperson Gentry Brann said the company was working to relocate as many affected personnel as possible to other CB&I locations or project sites.
“So far, we have been able to place about 90 percent,” Brann said in an email to Rigzone. “We are assessing the situation and will make a decision on how to permanently move forward once we know the full extent of the damage.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Falcon Oil Declares Commercial Flow Test Results for Shenandoah Well
- UK Oil Regulator Publishes New Emissions Reduction Plan
- Japan Failing to Meet Corporate Demand for Clean Power: Amazon
- PetroChina Posts Higher Annual Profit on Higher Production
- McDermott Settles Reficar Dispute
- Macquarie Strategists Expect Brent Oil Price to Grind Higher
- US, SKorea Launch Task Force to Stop Illicit Refined Oil Flows into NKorea
- Russian Navy Enters Warship-Crowded Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks
- Pennsylvania County Joins List of Local Govts Suing Big Oil over Climate
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call