An explosion on a Gulf of Mexico oil rig that killed three workers and injured several more was caused by staff not following safety procedures, a report has claimed.
The third-party investigation into the blast at the West Delta 32 platform operated by Black Elk Energy last November found that workers were welding pipes that connected to a tank containing crude oil and oil vapours.
Despite production being shut in, the workers did not follow safety practices to isolate the pipe, which caused the vapours and then the oil to explode.
The report, commissioned by Black Elk in the wake of the fatal incident, has been shared with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which is still conducting its own investigation into the deaths.
“The victims of this tragic accident last November are always in our thoughts and prayers,” said Black Elk chief executive John Hoffman.
“We owe it to them and their families to understand how this accident happened.
“With this report, I am confident we now know the causes of this tragedy and how to prevent such an accident from ever happening again.”
Black Elk said the report indicated the contracted company, Grand Isle Shipyard, had used subcontractors on the project despite committing not to.
“A serious issue in this case was Grand Isle’s apparent failure to provide proper safety training and appropriate supervision,” said Hoffman.
A spokesman for the BSEE told the Houston Chronicle that federal investigations were still ongoing, and its own report would be issued in due course.