US Gulf oil output recovers slightly, gas dips-MMS

NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - Oil companies operating in the offshore Gulf of Mexico raised crude oil production slightly in the wake of Hurricane Dolly on Wednesday, though natural gas production levels dipped, the U.S. Minerals Management Service said.

Some 58,122 barrels per day, or 4.5 percent, of the Gulf of Mexico's crude oil production was offline Wednesday due to the effects of Dolly, compared to 60,621 bpd shut a day earlier, the MMS said in its report.

Meanwhile, 606 million cubic feet per day, or 7.9 percent, of the Gulf of Mexico's natural gas production was offline Wednesday, compared to 395 mmcfd shut a day earlier, according to the report.

Dolly was expected to hit the Texas coast near Mexico later on Wednesday. (Reporting by Richard Valdmanis)