Cutter Pompano News

BSEE, Coast Guard Continue Response Coordination for Loss of Well Control Event and Rig Fire. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard are continuing to oversee Walter Oil & Gas Corporation’s response efforts to secure the natural gas well and extinguish the subsequent fire that started after the operator’s loss of well control Tuesday. Both BSEE and Coast Guard conducted multiple overflights today to supplement responsible party flights to maintain aerial surveillance of the scene. The natural gas well continues to fuel the fire on the rig. The derrick and drill floor structure has collapsed over the rig, and a very light sheen that dissipates quickly has been observed in the ocean.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted multiple overflights today to supplement responsible party flights to maintain aerial surveillance of the scene. The natural gas well continues to fuel the fire on the rig. The derrick and drill floor structure has collapsed over the rig, and a very light sheen that dissipates quickly has been observed in the ocean. A water curtain is being applied by a fire-fighting vessel to the rig, not to extinguish the fire, but to provide heat protection to the rig.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard are continuing to oversee Walter Oil & Gas Corporation’s response efforts to secure the natural gas well and extinguish the subsequent fire that started after the operator’s loss of well control yesterday morning. Both BSEE and Coast Guard conducted overflights this morning to assess the situation. Coast Guard confirmed that the fire began at 10:45 p.m. CDT July 23. There is no observed sheen on the water surface. As the rig fire continues, the beams supporting the derrick and rig floor have folded and have collapsed over the rig structure. Two firefighting vessels were in the area and re-located to a safe distance from the fire.

The Coast Guard Cutter Pompano, an 87-ft. Coastal Patrol Boat, will be commissioned into service in a ceremony at Coast Guard Station Gulfport on December 14 at 10 a.m. The Pompano, homported in Gulfport, is a new Marine Protector Class vessel capable of performing search and rescue, law enforcement, fisheries patrols, drug interdiction, and alien interdiction duties up to 200 miles offshore. Key speakers at the ceremony include Mississippi Rep. Ronnie Shows, and the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander, Rear Adm. Roy J. Casto. Lt. Daniel Jones, commanding officer of the Pompano, will lead a crew of 10. The Marine Protector Class is designed to replace the aging 82-ft. Point Class cutters.

The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded its search for five crewmen missing since their offshore supply vessel sank near Pilottown, La., Saturday, and is, as of Tuesday, February 24, overseeing recovery and salvage operations to safely remove the vessel from the Southwest Pass. The Coast Guard called off its search and rescue efforts at about 5 p.m. after a final search of the area failed to locate any survivors. Coast Guard assets have been continuously involved in the search since they arrived at the scene of the accident at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21. Also assisting in the search were personnel and resources from Plaquemines Parish, the New Orleans Port Authority, the La. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Navy.