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Philippe Reichstul News

18 Mar 2001

World’s Biggest Oil Rig Is Sinking

The world's biggest offshore oil rig, hit by blasts that apparently killed 10 people, may sink in the next two days, the rig's Brazilian owners said on Friday, raising fears of environmental damage. "Petrobras is in mourning," he said. So far one person has been confirmed dead after three powerful blasts, whose cause is unknown, rocked the rig with 175 workers aboard. Off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, the giant 40-story rig's deck is now dipping into the water. If it sinks and damages shutters of underwater wells, it could cause Brazil's worst environmental catastrophe, according to engineers. Petrobras, which has experienced environmental disasters over the last few years, said it had five ships around the rig able to contain a potential spill.

15 Mar 2001

World's Biggest Oil Platform May Sink

The world's biggest oil platform, owned by Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras, may sink, sending the death toll to 10 after two powerful explosions rocked the rig earlier Thursday, Petrobras president said. Petrobras President Henri Philippe Reichstul also said the nine workers missing since the blasts have little chance of survival, which would bring the death toll to 10. "The platform is listing 30 degrees and could sink," Reichstul told a press conference in Macae, Rio de Janeiro in a statement reported by Petrobras press department. Early Thursday morning, two powerful blasts rocked the rig, which stood 40 storeys high some 78 miles (125 km) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state in the Roncador oil field in the Campos Basin, which produces most of Brazil's oil.

27 Mar 2001

Probe Into Rig Sinking Begins

The head of Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras said on Tuesday that a European company would monitor a probe into the cause of an accident that sank Petrobras' biggest oil rig and killed 11 earlier this month. Yet again, Petrobras President Henri Philippe Reichstul rebuffed accusations of negligence by the company's top management, but pledged to punish those responsible for the blasts that destroyed the Reichstul said in his testimony in the Senate that Norwegian classification agency Det Norske Veritas -- the world's biggest body responsible for surveying and verifying seaworthiness -- would provide an independent report on the investigation into the causes of the accident. "For us, it is a matter of honor...

20 Mar 2001

Worlds Largest Rig Still Afloat

Crews managed to prevent the world's largest offshore oil rig from sinking farther into the sea on Monday, four days after explosions crippled its structure and killed 10, its Brazilian owners said. They said the 40-story platform belonging to Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras had stabilized by Monday evening after workers pumped enough water out of the submerged compartments. They are injecting nitrogen and compressed air in a bid to remove nearly 3,000 tons of water weighing down the rig. Even so, the platform was listing more than ever, at a 27-degree angle. In the last 24 hours it has sunk 1.3 feet (40 cm). The platform has sunk almost 15 feet (4.6 m) since the blasts.

02 May 2001

Petrobras CEO Defends Company's Honor

The top executive of Brazilian state oil giant Petrobras on Tuesday defended his company's acceptance of an industry achievement award despite suffering the loss of the world's largest deepwater oil rig in March. Petrobras president and CEO Philippe Reichstul dedicated the 2001 Offshore Technology Conference Distinguished Award for Companies and Organizations to the 11 workers who died when two explosions rocked the P-36 rig on March 15. Reichstul said Petrobras accepted the award because it recognizes the company's advances in subsea production systems, not the drilling platform proper. The subsea systems were not damaged in the sinking, he said. "We've been amazed by the way everything is impeccable subsea," Reichstul said at the 2001 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) yesterday.