*

Hurricane warnings issued across much of Texas coast

*

Storm previously caused 11 deaths and destruction in the

Caribbean

*

Oil companies adjust operations; Shell evacuates workers

from

platforms

(Changes projected landfall to Monday and shift in direction

toward Houston as possible Category 2 hurricane paragraphs 1-2,

port closures in paragraph 3, adds temperatures in paragraph 4)

By Tyler Clifford

July 7 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Beryl could grow into

a Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall in the Houston

area early on Monday as it regains strength moving northwest

over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. National

Hurricane Center.

The storm was expected to strengthen back into a

Category 1 hurricane on Sunday as it travels over warm waters

and shifts north-northwest in the afternoon. The NHC issued

hurricane warnings across much of the Texas coast.

The storm has prompted

closures or vessel traffic restrictions

at multiple ports in cities from Houston to Corpus Christi,

which is the top crude oil export hub in the U.S. The closures

could disrupt crude oil exports, shipments of crude to

refineries, and motor fuel from these plants.

Temperatures in the region are forecast at above 90 degrees

Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in the coming days, including heat

indices as high as 108 on Sunday. 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.

Some oil producers, including Shell and Chevron ( CVX )

, had evacuated personnel from their Gulf of Mexico

offshore production platforms ahead of the storm.

Citgo Petroleum Corp has said it plans to keep the Corpus

Christi refinery running at minimum production as the storm

moves up the coast.

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.

(Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Chizu Nomiyama)