BP says 'no obvious major' damage seen at US Gulf of Mexico platforms

BP said Sept. 2 that flyovers across the US Gulf of Mexico have indicated "no obvious major damage" from Hurricane Ida to its four large producing platforms there.

But "production will remain shut in until further confirmation is obtained, which indicates safe and reliable operations may resume," BP said in a statement. "Weather permitting, our team will assess habitability and provide a more comprehensive update of the platforms' statuses as safety permits."

Ida pummeled the Louisiana Coast as it made landfall Aug. 29 packing winds of 150 mph and even higher gusts.

Also, BP's onshore assets at Houma and Port Fourchon experienced the "brunt of Hurricane Ida's inland force" and damaged both facilities that will require repairs, said the company.

"In the interim, we will temporarily relocate our shore base and heliport to other locations," BP said. The company's midstream and downstream assets are in various stages of startup and await facility inspections and power restoration.

Other upstream companies are also relocating their shore-based operations.

Shell said late Aug. 31 it would establish what it called a "temporary crew-change heliport," since the primary crew-change heliport in Houma, Louisiana, suffered "significant damage" during the storm.

Also, BHP Billiton said Sept. 1 it had temporarily relocated its shore base from Port Fourchon to Galveston and was in the process of setting up operations.