Gulf oil groups prep for Alberto

Companies evacuate platforms, reduce flow of oil and gas

Major oil companies are evacuating platforms in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and reducing the flow of oil and gas as they hunker down for Subtropical Storm Alberto.

Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell and others are implementing evacuation plans this weekend as safety precautions with Alberto scheduled to make landfall early Monday over the northwestern Florida Panhandle.

Shell already has evacuated its new Appomattox platform, which was launched into the Gulf earlier this month. Shell also removed personnel from its nearby Ram Powell hub, said Shell spokesman Curtis Smith.

The multibillion-dollar Appomattox was authorized by Shell in 2015, representing the first major deep-water project approved after oil prices crashed in late 2014.

Exxon Mobil, headquartered in Irving, said it evacuated its Lena platform and its Mobile Bay offshore operations, while continuing to closely watch the storm.

“With the safety of our work-

force as our first priority, we have finalized transportation plans for the staged evacuation of personnel to shore,” said Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Suann Guthrie.

Chevron said it evacuated non-essential personnel from

its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms — both of which are due south of Alabama. Chevron said its four other Gulf platform hubs are continuing to operate with production levels at their normal volumes.

“We will continue to closely monitor the system and remain focused on the safety of our

workforce, the integrity of our facilities and the protection of the environment,” said Chevron spokeswoman Veronica Flores-Paniagua.

British oil company BP said it is operating normally, keeping a close eye on the storm.

Tourism for the Houston Gulf Coast is not expected to be

impacted.

The Galveston Island Beach Patrol expects no danger of high tides from Albert, said patrol chief Peter Davis — just a “slight increase in surf” at the most. So Memorial Day beachgoers shouldn’t expect to see any limitations on their access to the beach or the water.

“Our plan is to keep our towers and equipment on the beach and plan for another busy beach day tomorrow,” Davis said.