More oil companies have followed BP’s lead and evacuated non-essential personnel from rigs in the US Gulf of Mexico in the face of a gathering storm, according to Reuters.
Shell, Transocean and Anadarko say they are being proactive in trying to anticipate developments with Tropical Depression Nine, which was moving west from the Caribbean Sea after passing Cuba and the Florida Keys.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami, Florida, said a west-northwest movement of the storm was possible although it also predicted a decline in wind speed from 35mph.
While the oil operators are remaining alert to weather developments, for the most part they plan to maintain rig operations with the reduced staff. But Switzerland-based Transocean said it was considering moving two rigs.
