An offshore fire aboard a Shell oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico sent two workers to the hospital early Wednesday morning and forced the evacuation of dozens of others.
Two Shell Employees Suffer Concussions, Other Injuries
The fire aboard the Enchilada platform was reported to U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders at 1:20 a.m. on November 8, 2017.
Two Shell employees were medevaced from the oil rig and transferred to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
A 54-year-old man suffered flash burns and a concussion, while a 29-year-old man sustained a concussion and a sprained wrist.
Both men have since been released from the hospital. They have not been identified.
All 46 workers aboard the Enchilada oil rig were rescued via lifeboat and evacuated to the nearby Salsa oil platform.
Shell Oil Platform Fire Associated with 30-Inch Pipeline
The Enchilada oil platform is located near Garden Banks, about 112 nautical miles south of Vermilion Bay, Louisiana.
When the rig was installed in January 1997, it had a design capacity of 60,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 400 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas. The rig was also designed to accept up to 18 pipeline risers to serve offshore pipeline systems, and has a total export capacity of more than 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) and 250,000 bpd.
Shell has characterized the Enchilada oil rig fire as an “operational incident” associated with a 30-inch gas export pipeline. The source has been identified and the fire contained to a small (3-6 foot) gas flame.
For safety reasons, Shell is allowing the gas discharge to burn while the pipeline is being safely depressurized.
Fire Forces Shell to Shut Enchilada Platform, Other Nearby Oil Rigs
Shell has been forced to shut in the Enchilada platform, as well as its Salsa and Auger rigs and nearby fields. The 30-inch gas export pipeline has also been shut down.
A statement from Shell indicated that there was no visible sign of oil in the water. Coast Guard and Shell contracted vessels are on site monitoring the situation.
A Clean Gulf Association oil spill response vessel has been mobilized as a precautionary measure. Other vessels are on standby.
Personnel from Shell have performed a visual assessment of the Enchilada platform and it appears to be structurally sound. However, the company indicated that it would be conducting a more detailed analysis.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) are investigating the cause of the Shell oil rig fire.
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