In a weather disruption affecting Gulf offshore operations, Shell began evacuating nonessential workers from six production assets on 6 October, Reuters reported.[8] Chevron also said it was transporting nonessential personnel from its Gulf platforms, but had not immediately indicated any production impact.[8]
Shell's evacuation list covered Stones, Mars, Olympus, Ursa, Vito and Appomattox.[8] Reuters reported the personnel movements as the developing storm threatened offshore production areas and major refineries along the coast.[8]
The National Hurricane Center's 1500 UTC advisory on 7 October identified the system as Tropical Storm Isaias, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.[4] It forecast rapid strengthening, hurricane status by Thursday and an approach to the northern Gulf Coast on Friday.[4] A hurricane watch covered Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida, with tropical storm and storm surge watches also in effect for parts of the coast.[4]
Reuters identified six refineries operated by Shell, Valero Energy, Marathon, PBF Energy and Chevron in the forecast landfall area.[8] The hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible, rather than already occurring in the watch area.[4] The article reports precautionary personnel movements, not a quantified loss of Gulf production.[8]
Sources: [4] https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2026/al09/al092026.public.004.shtml [8] https://www.bairdmaritime.com/offshore/drilling-production/gulf-of-mexico-energy-infrastructure-under-threat-from-looming-storm