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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Did a Shell-operated deep water oil platform break loose in the Gulf of Mexico due to Hurricane Ida?

By Beatrice Dupuy
NO

The claim was shared widely on social media but the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a flyover of the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday that revealed no oil platforms had broken loose, according to an agency statement.

On Monday, Shell conducted its own flyover and announced on its website that its oil platforms, known as Mars, Olympus and Ursa, “are all intact and on location.”

The false claim stemmed from a Facebook post from Mississippi Weather Network, an account that shares weather information based on tips from the public. In an email to the AP, the network said it had heard from a source that an oil platform had broken loose but “issued a retraction as quickly as possible” after it could not be confirmed.

Social media users, however, continued to share screenshots of the original post.  

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Mississippi Weather Network Facebook post, Aug. 29
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business.
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