Hurricane Isaias is approaching the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, prompting major
producers to cut output and evacuate staff. BP said it has temporarily reduced
Gulf production and evacuated all personnel from Na Kika and Thunder Horse, and
removed non-essential staff from Argos, Atlantis and Mad Dog. Shell, Chevron and
Harbour Energy have suspended production at some facilities and withdrawn
personnel. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said about 1.28 mln bpd of
offshore crude, or 62.9% of current Gulf offshore output, was shut in as of
Thursday morning. Isaias is expected to make landfall Friday or early Saturday
along the northern Gulf coast.