A contractor was killed and three others were seriously hurt in a fixed platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico roughly 15 miles West of the southern tip of South Pass, Louisiana. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) states that Houston-based Fieldwood Energy Services reported the deadly blast on its West Delta 105 “E” facility Thursday shortly before 3 p.m.
Fieldwood issued a statement later in the day claiming that the explosion was “an isolated incident that has been fully contained.” While the names of the workers affected have not yet been released, the company has admitted that the 3 injured are currently receiving medical care in an offshore facility.
All other personnel that were onboard the facility at the time of the explosion are accounted for and unharmed.
According to Fieldwood and the BSEE, the platform was not in production when the incident occurred and there is no danger to the environment. As for what caused the explosion to occur, details are sketchy. The investigation remains ongoing.