HOUSTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Energy companies on Thursday kept 28% of U.S. Gulf of Mexico crude oil production shut, or 513,878 barrels daily, according to regulator Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), after Hurricane Ida hit platforms in the region.
Oil and gas companies had 42 offshore facilities evacuated, up from 36 Wednesday. About 39% of the Gulf's natural gas offshore production remained shut-in following the storm.
Platforms have been offline for about three weeks now and have helped to sustain global oil prices this month. The Gulf is responsible for about 17% of total U.S. crude oil production and 5% of total U.S. dry natural gas.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC was continuing to assess damages to its West Delta-143 facility, a major transfer station for three major oilfields that remain offline.
(Reporting by Sabrina Valle and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Chris Reese and Andrea Ricci)
