HOUSTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Chevron ( CVX ) on Thursday said it

was conducting aerial inspections of its U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil

and gas platforms and expects to return offshore staff later in

the day, a spokesperson said.

The oil major earlier this week had evacuated staff from its

Anchor, Big Foot and Tahiti oil and gas producing platforms

ahead of Hurricane Francine's run through the Gulf of Mexico.

The platforms should start a production ramp up once the

facilities are deemed safe and offshore workers fully returned,

the spokesperson said.