The fire at a platform in the US Gulf of Mexico involved a 30-inch gas export pipeline, supermajor Shell has revealed.
The company released an update today following yesterday’s incident on the Enchilada installation.
All 46 personnel working at the Enchilada facility were safely evacuated. Two Shell employees were injured. Both have been treated and released from the hospital.
Production at the Auger and Salsa platforms and nearby fields have been shut in.
There is no visual evidence of oil on the water near the incident site and the source of the fire is isolated.
For safety reasons, Shell has chosen to allow the gas discharge a 3-6 foot flame – to burn while the export pipeline is being safely depressurized.
Nearly 60 Shell employees and representatives from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were mobilized and are safely responding to this incident, the firm added in an update.
The coastguard and Shell contracted vessels are on site monitoring the situation.
As a “precautionary measure”, a Clean Gulf Association oil spill response vessel has been mobilized, and other vessels are on standby.
Shell personnel performed a visual assessment of the Enchilada platform and based on those observations, the asset appears to be structurally sound.
A more detailed analysis of the platform will be conducted.
No harm to people or the environment is ever acceptable and Shell deeply regrets that this incident occurred.
Shell, the coastguard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are investigating the cause.