Storm Bonnie poses little threat to Gulf of Mexico

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The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie weakened further on Saturday and it was not expected to gain strength as it moved through the U.S. oil patch in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said."Environmental conditions are not favorable for strengthening and the depression will probably continue with 25 knots until it moves inland tonight," the Miami-based hurricane center said in its latest advisory."Because Bonnie is not expected to re-intensify ,,, all coastal tropical storm warnings have been discontinued," it added.The approach of the storm has hampered efforts by BP Plc to permanently plug its leaking oil well in the Gulf.It also prompted oil and natural gas producers to evacuate many offshore workers, shutting in nearly 30 percent of Gulf oil production and about 10 percent of gas output.For full spill coverage http:/link.reuters.com/hed87kLink to the NHC: http:/www.nhc.noaa.gov/Link to storm tracking:http:/www.reuters.com/subjects/hurricanesBP said on Saturday that a relief well rig and other vessels dealing with the spill were preparing to return to the site of the blown-out Macondo well, however, after moving out due to the storm threat earlier.The Gulf of Mexico is home to about 30 percent of U.S. oil production, 11 percent of natural gas production and more than 43 percent of U.S. refinery capacity.At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) the hurricane center said Bonnie, with top sustained winds of barely 30 miles (48 km) per hour, was centered about 165 miles (265 km) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.It was on a track that would see it make landfall between southeast Louisiana and Alabama sometime on Saturday night.Bonnie was the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.Forecasters say this year's hurricane season is expected to be especially active.(Reporting by Tom Brown)

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