ENERGY

Chevron Loses 3 Oil Platforms in Hurricane: In a flyover of its central Gulf of Mexico offshore facilities, Chevron Corp. inspectors discovered three oil-well platforms completely destroyed, a fourth with its production platform blown into the sea and damage to pipelines, helicopter decks and other facilities. Initial estimates of damage totaled $40 million. Chevron estimated indefinite long-term production losses of 2,600 barrels of crude oil and 15 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, amounting to about $75,000 a day in revenue. Chevron, which had evacuated all its 1,200 employees and contractors working in the gulf, reported no injuries to workers, many of whom are back at their job sites. Chevron has a total of 171 platforms and supporting structures in the Gulf of Mexico.