*

Hurricane warnings issued across much of Texas coast

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Storm previously caused 11 deaths and destruction in the

Caribbean

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Oil companies adjust operations; Shell evacuates workers

from

platforms

July 7 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Beryl was heading

northwest over the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and was expected to

strengthen back into a Category 1 hurricane before making

landfall on the Texas coast late in the evening.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued hurricane warnings

across much of the Texas coast, and Corpus Christi closed its

port ahead of the gale force winds that were expected to hit the

area. Parts of eastern Texas were on flood watch ahead of the

storm, which had maximum wind speeds of 60 mph (96 kph) as of

Sunday morning.

Earlier this week the storm, which at one point intensified

to a Category 5 hurricane, left a deadly trail of destruction

across the Caribbean. It swept through Jamaica, Grenada, St.

Vincent and the Grenadines, in addition to unleashing heavy

rainfall on northern Venezuela.

It has claimed at least 11 lives, tearing apart buildings

while felling power lines and trees.

Beryl last made landfall on Friday, crossing Mexico's Yucatan

Peninsula and causing power outages in some areas. However, it

largely spared the top beach destinations there and caused no

casualties. Video showed the international airport at Cancun

packed with tourists on Saturday as they rescheduled their

flights home after the storm.

With the storm now approaching Texas, the National Weather

Service warned of storm surges causing coastal flooding and rip

currents.

OIL REFINERIES

Most of the northern Gulf's offshore oil and gas production

is east of Beryl's forecast track.

Citgo Petroleum Corp has said it plans to keep the Corpus

Christi refinery running at minimum production as the storm

moves up the coast.

Shell shut down production on its Perdido platform in

the Gulf and evacuated workers there. Shell said it also

evacuated workers from the Whale platform, which is due to start

production later this year.

Gibson Energy ( GBNXF ), which operates a large oil terminal

in Corpus Christi, said operations were continuing, but it would

take further steps depending on the forecast.

(Writing by Chizu Nomiyama; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)