More US oil refineries in the path of Hurricane Rita have closed, but crude prices have eased on hopes that much oil production may be spared the worst.
The shutdowns in the state, which processes a quarter of US oil, come as the industry is struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina's devastation.
Hundreds of workers have been evacuated by the energy firms as Rita approaches, although industry analysts took heart from the fact that the storm had weakened.
At least 16 of the state's 26 refineries are potentially in the hurricane's path, stretching along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
The latest closures include Exxon Mobil's 557,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Baytown, the largest in the country. The same firm's facility in Beaumont, which produces 348,500 bpd, has also been shut down.
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US Oil Refineries Closed Ahead of Rita
Hundreds of workers have been evacuated by the energy firms as Rita approaches
