NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chevron (NYSE: CVX) today announced that it has begun to reoccupy its downtown New Orleans office.

"Today is a key milestone for Chevron in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," said Melody Meyer, vice president of Chevron's Gulf of Mexico business unit. "There is a strong feeling of homecoming for the employees who have already returned. Having our employees once again working together in New Orleans provides a sense of return to normalcy."

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Chevron had approximately 750 employees in its downtown New Orleans office building. Chevron's building, 935 Gravier Street, had flooding on the first floor and garage, and minor damage to windows. Chevron has repaired the building to the extent needed for occupancy and plans to restaff the building by late first quarter 2006.

"We have been monitoring the safety, security and infrastructure reliability to ensure employees can work safely without business disruption, and we see improvements in these areas," Meyer said. "Chevron appreciates the efforts of city, state, and federal officials who have worked to restore essential services in the central business district where our office is located."

Chevron kept the majority of its New Orleans-based employees living and working in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina. Many displaced employees worked out of a Chevron office in Lafayette, where Chevron built a temporary housing complex for employees and their families. In October, Chevron opened a temporary office in Madisonville, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. A majority of the business unit's Louisiana employees work offshore and were not directly affected by the closure of Chevron's New Orleans office building.

In addition to returning employees to New Orleans, Chevron has made significant contributions and payments to help those impacted by the storm:

-- A total of $5.5 million in contributions to non-profit and government

agencies in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas for hurricane recovery.

In Louisiana, $1.2 million in contributions to various agencies, including:

• United Way for Greater New Orleans


• Children's Hospital New Orleans


• New Orleans Police Foundation


• Project Rebuild Plaquemines Parish


• Vermilion Parish School Board


• Cameron Parish Sheriff Relief Fund


• Senate District 1 relief fund in St. Bernard Parish and St. Tammany Parish
• Prior to Katrina, Chevron made a $1 million donation to the Orleans Parish School System's Signature School program. Given Katrina's affects and the resulting changes in school district needs, this funding is will be redirected to assist in rebuilding area schools.


• Chevron prepaid $2.5 million in 2006 property taxes in Orleans, Plaquemines, Vermilion and Cameron parishes to provide much needed funds to municipalities suffering from little-to-no tax revenue.

Chevron has extensive operations in Louisiana, including oil and gas exploration and production, pipeline, and chemicals. Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading energy companies. With more than 53,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in over 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing, and distributing fuels and other energy products. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

SOURCE Chevron

CONTACT:
Matt Carmichael
New Orleans
504-908-6432