Sept 25 (Reuters) - About 29% of crude production and

17% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were shut

in response to Hurricane Helene, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and

Environmental Enforcement said on Wednesday.

Energy producers had shut-in 511,000 barrels per day of oil

production and nearly 313 million cubic feet of natural gas from

Gulf waters, the bureau added.

The hurricane was located about 480 miles (775 km)

south-southwest of Tampa, packing maximum sustained winds of 80

mph (130 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

There were 17 oil and gas platforms evacuated as of

Wednesday, about 4.6% of the Gulf of Mexico total, the offshore

regulator said citing reports from producers.

Chevron ( CVX ) said it was shutting in production at

Chevron ( CVX )-operated Gulf of Mexico facilities and evacuating all

associated personnel.

Norwegian oil producer Equinor ( EQNR ) also

said

it has shut in operations and evacuated staff at its Titan

platform in the Gulf of Mexico as of Tuesday morning.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 15% of all

domestic oil production and 2% of natural gas output, according

to federal data.