Swift Energy says La. facilities survived Gustav

Swift Energy Co. said Friday that an initial flyover of its facilities on the Louisiana coast shows they are still in place after Hurricane Gustav plowed through the region.

Gustav made landfall in southern Louisiana Monday and was widely feared to mirror the damage caused by 2005's Hurricane Katrina. However, the storm's effect turned out to be less than expected.

Swift's flyover examined its facilities in Lake Washington Field in Plaquemines Parish, Bay de Chene Field in Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes, and Horseshoe Bayou, Bayou Sale and Cote Blanche Island Fields, in St. Mary Parish.

Inspection crews have been organized to inspect the facilities in person, Swift said in a statement.

The Bay de Chene Field facility has experienced "structural damage" and some production equipment in the field has been damaged or destroyed, the Houston-based company said.

"The extent of this damage and the cost and timing of repairs is not known at this time," Swift said.

Production has resumed at Swift's South Bearhead Creek Field in Beauregard Parish, Brookeland Field in the Texas counties of Jasper and Newton, Masters Creek Field in the Louisiana parishes of Vernon and Rapides, Jeanerette Field in St. Mary Parish and High Island Field in Cameron Parish.