FACTBOX: Ike slams ashore amid 22 percent of U.S. refining

(Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Ike ground across the heart of the U.S. energy sector Saturday, leaving most U.S. Gulf of Mexico production idled and raking a fifth of U.S. refining capacity with howling winds and torrential rains.

Forecasters said the storm, packing winds of more than 100 mph (160 kph), would likely begin easing by mid-afternoon Saturday, but oil companies already had shut about 25 percent of the nation's crude oil production and nearly 22 percent of its refined fuel production as a precaution.

The following outlines the impact of Ike on the energy sector:

***************************HIGHLIGHTS*************************

CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF GUSTAV AND IKE

*16.6 million barrels of crude oil

*81.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas

*20.9 million barrels of refining (counting only plants completely shut)

CURRENTLY SHUT/SLOWED

*97.5 pct Gulf of Mexico oil output

*94.4 pct Gulf of Mexico gas output

*14 refineries shut, 21.6 pct of US capacity

*3 refineries representing 5.1 pct of US capacity at reduced rates

*Most Gulf Coast pipelines, ports and waterways shut

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

*Louisiana oil port shut, but sends some oil from storage