(Update) October 9, 2026, 7:01 PM GMT+1: Article updated throughout.
In a statement sent to Rigzone on Friday, the Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) revealed that personnel had been evacuated from a total of 129 production platforms in the Gulf, based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11am CDT today.
That represents 34.77 percent of the 371 manned platforms in the Gulf of America, the MMA highlighted, noting that production platforms are the offshore structures from which oil and natural gas are produced and transported to shore. The MMA pointed out in the statement that, unlike drilling rigs, which typically move from location to location, production facilities remain in the same location throughout a project’s duration.
The statement also revealed that personnel had been evacuated from eight non-dynamically positioned rigs, which it noted was equivalent to 72.73 percent of the 11 rigs of this type currently operating in the Gulf. Rigs can include several types of offshore drilling facilities including jack up rigs, platform rigs, all submersibles, and moored semisubmersibles, the statement highlighted.
Two of the 17 dynamically positioned rigs in the Gulf have moved off location out of the storm’s path as a precaution, according to the MMA, which noted that dynamically positioned rigs maintain their location while conducting well operations by using thrusters and propellers. These rigs are not moored to the seafloor, so they can move out of harm’s way in a relatively short time frame, the MMA stated, adding that personnel remain on board and return to the original location once the storm has passed.
Production Shut In
In its statement, the MMA outlined that, from operator reports, it estimates that approximately 71.51 percent of the current daily oil production and 58.84 percent of the current daily natural gas production in the Gulf of America has been shut in.
The production percentages are calculated using information submitted by offshore operators in daily reports, the MMA noted. Shut-in production information included in these reports is based on the amount of oil and gas the operator expected to produce that day, the MMA said, adding that the shut-in production figures are estimates that the MMA compares to historical production reports to ensure the estimates follow a logical pattern.
“The Marine Minerals Administration is monitoring offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of America as they evacuate platforms and rigs in response to the storm,” the MMA said in the statement.
“The Marine Minerals Administration team will work with offshore operators and other state and federal agencies until operations return to normal, and the storm is no longer a threat to Gulf of America oil and gas activities,” it added.
“As part of the evacuation process, personnel activate the applicable shut-in procedure, which can frequently be accomplished from a remote location,” it continued.
“This involves closing safety valves located below the surface of the ocean floor to prevent the release of oil or gas, effectively shutting in production from wells in the Gulf and protecting the marine and coastal environments,” it noted.
“Shutting in oil and gas production is a standard procedure conducted by industry for safety and environmental reasons,” it went on to state.
The MMA highlighted that, after the storm has passed, facilities will be inspected.
“Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back online immediately,” it said, warning that “facilities sustaining damage may take longer to bring back online”.
The MMA’s statement highlighted that, as of July 10, the Department of the Interior reunified the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) into the MMA. The MMA “will oversee the responsible development of the nation’s offshore energy and marine mineral resources with an integrated focus on safety, environmental protection, and efficient oversight”, the statement noted.
ESA Sees Less Production Going Offline
At the time of writing, Earth Science Associates’ (ESA) GOMsmart platform projected mean production losses of 7.23 million barrels of oil and 8.62 billion cubic feet of gas as a result of Isaias.
ESA’s latest projections are lower than those the company made on Thursday, when it expected mean production losses of 9.55 million barrels of oil and 10.03 billion cubic feet of gas as a result of Isaias, and Wednesday, when it projected mean production losses of 11.17 million barrels of oil and 13.25 billion cubic feet of gas in the wake of the hurricane.
The company projected mean production losses of 7.12 million barrels of oil and 9.85 billion cubic feet of gas as a result of Storm Bertha, mean output losses of 10,001 barrels of oil and 80.00 million cubic feet of gas as a result of Edouard, and mean production losses of 10,000 barrels of oil and 60.00 million cubic feet of gas as a result of Arthur.
ESA’s website highlights that its GOMsmart platform forecasts production lost based on the path, strength, and speed of a storm impacting platforms in the Gulf. Back in July, an ESA spokesperson told Rigzone that ESA is a “leading provider of data and analytic tools to the companies that produce oil and gas in the Gulf”, adding that its clients are responsible for over 85 percent of the basin’s hydrocarbons.
Chevron, Shell, BP
In a statement posted on its website on October 9, Chevron said it was deploying processes and technology across its Gulf Coast operations to protect its people, facilities, and the environment and help safely maintain reliable fuel supplies.
“For our offshore operations, we have evacuated most of our personnel in the Gulf of America,” Chevron noted in its statement.
“We are utilizing state of the art technology to safely continue production at four Chevron operated Gulf of America platforms and have shut-in production at the remaining five facilities,” it added.
“At our onshore facilities, we continue to follow our established storm preparedness procedures and are closely monitoring the projected path of the hurricane,” it continued.
Chevron went on to highlight in its statement that it understands that fuel supply is critical and said it is working to safely minimize disruptions from the storm.
“Our supply team is also monitoring inventory availability across the region and tracking weather conditions and changes in demand,” Chevron said.
“Chevron will continue to closely monitor the system and remains focused on the safety of our workforce, the integrity of our facilities, and the protection of the environment,” it added.
“We stand ready to help impacted communities recover in the wake of the storm,” Chevron noted.
In a statement posted on its website on October 8, Shell said it was continuing to monitor Hurricane Isaias for potential impacts to its assets and operations in the Gulf of America.
“Evacuations are complete for Appomattox, Mars, Ursa Olympus and Vito. Production is shut-in at Mars, Ursa, Olympus and Vito,” the company revealed in the statement.
“In addition, we previously removed non-essential personnel from our Stones asset. As always, Shell’s top priority is the safety of our people, the environment, and our assets,” it added.
In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, BP said it was closely monitoring Hurricane Isaias to protect its people and operations in the deepwater Gulf of America.
“BP removed all personnel from our Na Kika and Thunder Horse platforms and shut in production at both,” the company said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we also removed non-essential personnel from our Argos, Atlantis, and Mad Dog platforms,” it added.
“Our top priority is the safety of our people and operations in the Gulf of America,” it went on to state.
Hurricane Isaias
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) website showed that, as of 12pm CDT on October 9, Isaias was a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, a minimum central pressure of 959 mb, and a 16 mile per hour north-northeasterly movement.
According to a public advisory on Isaias posted on the NHC site, the hurricane was located about 195 miles south of Pensacola, Florida, as of 10am CDT today. The advisory outlined that, as of 10am CDT, the hurricane was expected to approach the northern U.S. Gulf Coast on Friday afternoon before making landfall along the western Florida Panhandle coast this evening.
“A life-threatening storm surge is expected from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Suwannee, Florida,” a ‘key message’ for Hurricane Isaias, as of 10am CDT, posted on the NHC site stated.
“Residents under evacuation orders should leave immediately and follow advice from local officials,” it added.
“Extremely dangerous and damaging hurricane force-winds are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi where a Hurricane Warning is in effect,” it continued.
“Residents in these areas should have a safe room to ride out the storm and prepare for long-duration power outages,” the message warned.
The NHC message also noted that damaging wind gusts are likely over a large portion of the southeastern United States from western and northern Georgia westward over much of central and northern Alabama, southern middle Tennessee, and Mississippi, especially in areas of higher terrain.
“Residents should secure loose outdoor items, avoid driving high-profile vehicles, prepare for power outages, and be aware of the potential for falling trees,” it said.
“Isaias will bring areas of heavy rainfall to the central U.S. Gulf coast and much of the Southeast through the weekend. Considerable flash and urban flooding, and significant river flooding, are possible,” the message added.
The message also warned that tornado potential will increase this afternoon and continue through tonight.
“The greatest risk will be east of the center, particularly across the Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia,” it said.
“This risk will continue spreading north-northeast across parts of the Southeast on Saturday,” it added.
As of 4am CDT on October 9, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour, a minimum central pressure of 963 mb, and a 15 mile per hour north-northeasterly movement, the NHC site showed. As of 4am CDT on October 8, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, a minimum central pressure of 979 mb, and a nine mile per hour east-northeasterly movement, according to the site, which outlined that, as of 4am CDT on October 7, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb, and an eight mile per hour east-northeasterly movement.
Atlantic Hurricane Forecast
In a statement posted on its site recently, NOAA announced that it was maintaining its prediction for a “below-normal” Atlantic hurricane season.
“With the climatological peak of hurricane season approaching in early September, NOAA’s prediction for below-normal activity in the Atlantic basin remains,” NOAA said in that statement.
NOAA revealed in the statement that its forecasters were predicting a 75 percent chance for “below-normal” activity, a 20 percent chance of a “near-normal” season, and a five percent chance of “above-normal” activity. It highlighted that this updated prediction was similar to its initial outlook issued in May.
In that outlook, NOAA predicted a 55 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season, and a 10 percent chance of an above normal season.
NOAA highlighted in its latest Atlantic hurricane projection that forecasters from its National Weather Service had updated the number of expected named storms to 7-13. Of these, two to six could become hurricanes, including zero to two major hurricanes, that statement noted.
Gulf Oil, Gas Production
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) October short term energy outlook (STEO), in 2025, total crude oil output in the federal Gulf of America averaged 1.94 million barrels per day and total marketed natural gas production in the federal Gulf of America averaged 1.9 billion cubic feet per day.
The EIA’s latest STEO projected that, in 2026, total crude oil output in the federal Gulf of America will average 2.03 million barrels per day and total marketed natural gas production in the federal Gulf of America will come in at 2.0 billion cubic feet per day.
Atlantic weather systems have severely affected oil and gas operations in the Gulf in the past. For example, at its peak, Hurricane Ida shut in 95.65 percent of oil production in the Gulf on August 29, 2021, and 94.47 percent of gas production on August 31, 2021, U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) figures revealed.
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