Nov 5 (Reuters) - Major energy companies said on Tuesday

they are evacuating some oil production workers and securing

offshore platforms as they prepare for the approach of tropical

storm Rafael toward the Gulf of Mexico.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in its latest advisory

said Rafael was about 200 miles (320 km) east southeast of Grand

Cayman, packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph).

BP said it has secured offshore facilities and

removed some non-essential personnel from its Argos, Atlantis,

Mad Dog, Na Kika, and Thunder Horse facilities.

Chevron, which operates six platforms in the Gulf, including

Anchor, Blind Faith, Jack/St. Malo, Tahiti, Petronius, and Big

Foot, said it moved non-essential personnel, though production

remains unaffected.

Equinor ( EQNR ) said it has shut down production, with

full evacuations expected by the day's end.

Similarly, Shell on Monday began relocating

personnel from its Appomattox, Vito, and other assets in

anticipation of the storm's potential impact.