Oil Platform Ablaze in the Gulf of Mexico
Fire broke out on an unmanned oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico approximately five miles south of Port Fourchon, La., the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) reported.
BSEE is responding to the damaged unmanned platform in South Timbalier (ST) Block 27. The ST 27 IA platform is operated by Energy XXI, GOM, LLC, which reported to BSEE that the platform had been damaged, possibly by a vessel, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Friday.
The fire on the platform was extinguished through firefighting efforts by vessels in the area, and no injuries have been reported. Energy XXI reports that gas bubbles have been intermittently rising to the surface, though no other pollution has been observed.
According to the operator, there were three wells producing oil at the time of the incident. An Emergency Shut Down (ESD) was performed and production has been shut-in.
As weather allows, both BSEE and the operator will have personnel at the scene to determine the extent of the damage, BSEE said, adding that is providing oversight to the operator’s response efforts.
Both BSEE and the U.S. Coast Guard will investigate the incident.