Chevron Says Typhoon TLP Suffers Damage During Hurricane Rita

Chevron has begun moving refined products to retailers in Texas and Louisiana and is actively assessing the effects to its operations in the Gulf of Mexico region following Hurricane Rita.

Chevron's refined products terminal at Galena Park, Tx., was closed prior to the storm but re-opened to tanker truck service mid-day Saturday. The facility is operating around-the-clock to transfer more than 1.2 million gallons of motor vehicle fuels per day to more than 450 service stations within a 100-mile radius of Houston.

Chevron is assessing offshore oil and natural gas production facilities as weather permits. Initial assessments have revealed that the Typhoon tension leg platform (located in 2,000 feet of water in the Green Canyon area approximately 165 miles south-southwest of New Orleans) was severed from its mooring and suffered severe damage during the storm. The facility has been located and is being secured. Chevron has mobilized appropriate resources to address any environmental concerns. No employees are at risk. Prior to the storm, the company safely evacuated employees and contractors from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico facilities. Decisions on when production can be restarted from the company's other offshore facilities will be made when the post-storm assessments are concluded.

Reports of a gas leak in the proximity of the Henry Hub facility located in southwestern Louisiana were investigated by emergency response personnel. Two separate natural gas releases were located and secured, neither of which was sourced from Chevron's Sabine Pipe Line Company or Henry Hub.

The company also advises that its Houston offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 26, but will re-open on Tuesday, Sept. 27. However, the company is advising employees who left Houston during the evacuation to follow plans laid out by public officials regarding their attempted return to the city.

Chevron has set up a toll-free telephone number to help employees affected by Hurricane Rita to let the company know of their current situations. Any employees affected by the storm in Houston and the Texas gulf region are asked to contact the company by calling 1-800-334-3963.