Oil producer BHP on Thursday said it is preparing to evacuate staff from its Shenzi production platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Workers will be fully removed and production shut-in by Friday, a spokesperson said via email.

       A potentially devastating storm is brewing in the Caribbean Sea and expected to make its way through the Gulf of Mexico’s oil producing region over the next several days. It could become a major hurricane with up to 111 mile-per-hour (178 km) winds, forecasters said.

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