July 9 Reuters Oil prices slipped on Tuesday after a hurricane that hit a key U.S. oilproducing hub in Texas caused less damage than markets had expected, easing concerns over supply disruption.

Brent futures fell 39 cents or 0.45 to 85.36 a barrel by 1111 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate WTI crude slipped 44 cents or 0.53 to 81.89.

Although oil refining activity slowed and some production sites were evacuated, major refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast appeared to see minimal impact from Hurricane Beryl, which weakened into a tropical storm after hitting the Texas coast.

Early indications suggest that most energy infrastructure has come through unscathed, ING analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a client note, adding that price action in crude oil and refined fuel markets reflect little concern on supply disruption from the hurricane.

That eased market worries about the risk of supply disruption in Texas, where 40 of U.S. crude oil is produced.

Major oilshipping ports around Corpus Christi, Galveston and Houston had been shut ahead of the storm. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel reopened on Monday and the Port of Houston was projected to resume operations on Tuesday afternoon.

Several key refiners such as Marathon Petroleum were also preparing to restart their refining units.

Market participants are also keeping an eye on the situation in the Middle East for more trading cues. Oil prices settled down 1 on Monday amid hopes a possible ceasefire…