US Gulf of Mexico producers are in the initial stages of securing their operations in advance of two storms that are expected to move into that region next week.  BP has begun shutting in production from its four operated US Gulf platforms in advance of both Tropical Storm Laura, which is projected to head for offshore eastern Louisiana/Mississippi and areas further east, and Tropical Depression 14, which currently appears on a path to strike southeast Texas or western Louisiana, the company said Aug. 21. BP, whose four large operated platforms include Thunder Horse, Mad Dog, Atlantis and Na Kika, also said it has begun evacuating crews from platforms and drilling rigs […]