據路透社9月13日休斯頓報道，在佛羅里達州海岸醞釀的熱帶風暴預計將加強為颶風，并威脅到主要產油地區，美國墨西哥灣石油生產商周六撤離了海上設施。

雪佛龍公司(Chevron Corp .)和墨菲石油公司(Murphy Oil Corp .)周六開始撤離海上油氣平臺的工人。荷蘭皇家殼牌(Royal Dutch Shell)、必和必拓(BHP)、英國石油(BP)和赫斯集團(Hess Corp)表示，它們正在監測這場風暴，并準備在必要時采取行動。

熱帶風暴“薩利”一夜之間穿過佛羅里達州頂端，并進入墨西哥灣東部。美國國家颶風中心的最新預報稱，下周登陸前，其最大持續風速將達到每小時80英里(129公里/小時)。

一位女發言人稱，雪佛龍已開始撤離其Blind Faith和Petronius平臺的所有員工，并啟動了關閉程序，而其其他海上平臺的生產未受影響。

墨菲石油公司(Murphy Oil)的一位女發言人稱，該公司正準備從其最東邊的設施撤離非必要人員，并監測風暴可能對其他財產造成的影響。

美國墨西哥灣海上石油產量約占美國原油產量的17%，占美國天然氣總產量的5%。上月，由于颶風勞拉肆虐墨西哥灣，多達150萬桶/日的石油產量被停產。

據預報，“薩利”將在未來幾天內加強，并向路易斯安那州東南部和阿拉巴馬州之間的地區進發。

若 "薩利 "成為颶風，它將是不到一個月內第二場襲擊美國墨西哥灣沿岸的颶風。颶風 "勞拉 "以每小時150英里的風速襲擊了路易斯安那州，沿海城鎮被夷為平地，兩座煉油廠停工數周。

沈韓曄 摘譯自 路透社

原文如下：

Oil producers evacuate U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms as storm brews

U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil producers on Saturday evacuated offshore facilities as a tropical storm brewing off the Florida coast was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and threaten the prime oil region.

Chevron Corp and Murphy Oil Corp on Saturday started removing workers from offshore oil and gas platforms. Royal Dutch Shell, BHP, BP and Hess Corp said they were monitoring the storm and prepared to take action if needed.

Tropical storm Sally crossed the tip of Florida overnight and moved into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The latest forecast by the National Hurricane Center calls for its maximum sustained winds to reach 80 miles per hour (129 kph) ahead of landfall next week.

Chevron has begun evacuating all staff from its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms and initiated shut-in procedures, a spokeswoman said, while production at its other offshore platforms was unaffected.

Murphy Oil was preparing to evacuate non-essential personnel from its most easterly facilities and monitoring the storm for potential impact on other properties, a spokeswoman said.

U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore oil production accounts for about 17% of U.S. crude oil production and 5% of total U.S. natural gas production. As much as 1.5 million barrels per day of oil output was shut last month as Hurricane Laura tore through the Gulf of Mexico.

Sally was forecast to strengthen in the next several days and head for an area between southeastern Louisiana and Alabama.

If Sally becomes a hurricane, it would be the second to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in less than a month. Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana with devastating, 150 mph winds, leveling coastal towns and putting two oil refineries out of commission for weeks.