Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center continue to update the projected path of Hurricane Ike, and now it looks as if it may pass directly through the heart of the Gulf of Mexico’s oil and gas rigs. Ike is a giant, slow-moving storm with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 115 miles from its center. Currently a category two storm with 100 mph winds, it is expected to strengthen before making landfall in Texas late Friday night.

About two-thirds of the natural gas production in the Gulf remains shut since last week, when Hurricane Gustav passed through.