Tropical Storm Sally formed in the Gulf of Mexico, BHP Billiton and others began to evacuate.

SMM9: oil producers in the Gulf of Mexico evacuated offshore facilities on Saturday as a tropical storm brewing off the coast of Florida is expected to escalate into a hurricane and threaten the golden oil region, according to the latest news from foreign media.

Chevron (Chevron Corp) and Murphy Oil Company (Murphy Oil Corp) began evacuating workers from offshore oil and gas platforms on Saturday. Royal Dutch Shell, BHP Billiton, BP and Hess said they were monitoring the storm and were prepared to take action if necessary.

Tropical Storm Sally passed through Florida overnight and moved to the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center says its maximum sustained winds will reach 80 miles (129 kilometers) per hour before making landfall next week.