(Adds updated information about refineries and natural gas plants)

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy said Thursday 12 refineries in Texas and Louisiana with a capacity of 2.996 million barrels per day remained shut due to Hurricane Ike.

The number of shut refineries was unchanged from the department's estimate on Wednesday.

The department said Thursday afternoon that eight oil refineries with a capacity of 1.756 million barrels per day were operating at reduced rates. Eight other refineries with a total capacity of 1.606 million bpd were operating at their normal levels.

Separately, the department said there were additional reports of damage to natural gas gathering and offshore systems. The department said many natural gas companies were unable to assess damage and repair their facilities because flooding restricted road access.

Despite this, 19 of the 39 natural gas processing plants in Ike's path were operating at reduced or normal rates Thursday. The 19 plants have a total capacity of 7.20 billion cubic feet per day.

In addition, nine plants with a capacity of 4.43 bcf per day were deemed capable of restarting once power was restored or upstream gas flow resumed.

Ten major natural gas processing plants with a total capacity of 5.83 billion cubic feet per day were closed in the Gulf Coast. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe)

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