KEY POINTS
- U.S. oil companies evacuate workers from Gulf of Mexico platforms ahead of Hurricane Helene.
- Major firms, including BP, Chevron, and Shell, are shutting down or curtailing production on key platforms.
- NHC predicts the storm could intensify into a Category 3 hurricane with winds up to 115 mph.
U.S. oil companies are evacuating workers from Gulf of Mexico oil platforms as a major hurricane looms, marking the second severe storm in two weeks threatening the region’s offshore oil production.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that a potential tropical cyclone in the Caribbean is expected to intensify rapidly as it moves over the Gulf’s warm waters, potentially becoming a Category 3 hurricane named Helene by Thursday.
Evacuations underway as storm approaches
Oil firms, including BP, Chevron, Equinor, and Shell, have started evacuating staff from offshore platforms and curtailing production in response to the storm’s approach. The NHC predicts winds could reach up to 115 miles per hour (185 kph), bringing life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds to the northeastern Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle.
BP has shut down oil and gas output at its Na Kika and Thunder Horse platforms and reduced production at its Argos and Atlantis platforms. However, staff are being evacuated from these sites, along with the Mad Dog platform.
Chevron has also evacuated personnel and shut down production at its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms, while other sites like Anchor, Big Foot, and Jack/St. Malo remain operational.
According to Reuters, Shell announced it had shut down production at its Stones platform and reduced output at its Appomattox facility. Non-essential staff are being evacuated from Mars, Olympus, and Ursa platforms, although production continues at these locations.
Preparations for significant impact
Meteorologist Brad Reinhart from the NHC said, “The system is expected to grow in size while it traverses the Gulf,” and its fast-moving nature could lead to damaging winds penetrating inland after landfall. The oil industry is bracing for significant disruptions, with platforms across the Gulf region on alert.
Equinor has also begun evacuating non-essential staff from its Titan platform, though production remains unaffected. Occidental Petroleum and Talos Energy have stated they are preparing safety protocols for their offshore operations, though they have not provided specifics.
The evacuation and shutdown measures reflect the oil industry’s heightened caution in the face of potentially severe storms, especially as hurricanes have become more frequent and intense in recent years. Oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is critical to the U.S. energy supply, and any disruptions can impact global oil prices.
