Shell announced on Tuesday that it has started the process of restoring oil production at its Stones platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The decision comes as forecasts for a major hurricane shifted away from critical offshore oil-producing fields. Shell had previously shut down operations at both its Stones and Appomattox facilities in anticipation of the second major hurricane in two weeks threatening the region.

The oil giant halted production at both platforms on Sunday, as the hurricane was initially expected to pass through key offshore production sites. However, with the revised forecast, Shell has begun ramping up operations at the Stones platform. Production at the Appomattox facility, however, remains curtailed due to the lingering storm threat.

Shell further assured that no additional impacts have been reported at its other Gulf of Mexico production sites. In a statement, the company said, “We have completed the removal of non-essential personnel from Appomattox as well as our assets in the Mars Corridor and have safely paused some of our drilling operations.”

The company took these precautionary steps as Tropical Storm Helene continued to gain strength. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the storm is currently located about 170 miles (275 km) south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Helene is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday.

Shell has been actively monitoring weather patterns, balancing the safety of its personnel and assets while aiming to minimize the impact on oil production. The Gulf of Mexico is a key region for U.S. oil output, and hurricanes pose significant operational risks for companies with offshore drilling and production facilities.

As the storm threat persists, Shell will continue to prioritize safety while gradually restoring production where possible.