Gulf of Mexico producers move staff, cut output as Ida approaches
Posted on November 10th, 2009Greenwire: Oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Ida by relocating some workers and cutting back on production.
BP PLC has undergone “some precautionary curtailment of production” and evacuated some non-essential staff, according to a recorded statement on its hotline. Chevron Corp. has halted “some production” at its Gulf of Mexico rigs, according to its Web site, and has relocated some workers, said spokesman Mickey Driver.
Ida’s maximum sustained winds were recorded at 80 mph, down from 105 miles per hour earlier today, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in its latest advisory. The Category 1 storm was about 235 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River early this morning, but was moving north-northwest at 16 mph and could remain at hurricane strength by the time it reaches the U.S. coast early tomorrow morning.
Hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico — an area responsible for more than a fourth of U.S. production — runs from June to November (Schmollinger/Koh, Bloomberg, Nov. 9). – PT