APPOMATTOX OIL PLATFORM—This gargantuan deep-water drilling base 80 miles off the Louisiana coast hadn’t produced a drop of oil for Royal Dutch Shell PLC since Hurricane Ida. Turning it back on was proving to be an extraordinary challenge.
Power had to be restored after an apparent lightning strike blew a key fuse. At least one of four giant cranes needed to load diesel for generators had to be brought back into service so a boat could restock the platform’s supply of backup fuel, which was down to two days’ worth. The more than 30 miles of pipe on board had to be inspected for leaks.
