Exxon returning workers to U.S. offshore platforms

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) said on Wednesday it was flying workers back to its offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico after they were shuttered and evacuated for Hurricane Gustav.

"We are returning operations crews to those facilities that were not in the direct path of the storm. We are also moving post-storm assessment teams to those remaining facilities which were in the immediate path of the storm," Exxon said in a press release.

Exxon said in the release that about 37,000 barrels per day of its liquids production and 600 million cubic feet per day of its natural gas production remained shut in.

The company added that it had no timetable for restarting its two Louisiana oil refineries, Chalmette and Baton Rouge, that were shut due to Gustav.

"We are assessing restart options, but are unable to provide a restart schedule at this time," Exxon said.

(Reporting by Richard Valdmanis)