Deep Horizon Redux ?
http://www.onwingsofcare.org/index.php/protection-a-preservation/gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill-2010/gulf-2013/418-20130723-hercules-rig-explosion-gom.html
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2013/07/gulf_of_mexico_natural_gas_wel.html#incart_m-rpt-2
http://www.onwingsofcare.org/index.php/protection-a-preservation/gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill-2010/gulf-2013/418-20130723-hercules-rig-explosion-gom.html
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2013/07/gulf_of_mexico_natural_gas_wel.html#incart_m-rpt-2
Gulf of Mexico rig exploded Tuesday evening, causing drill floor and derrick to collapse. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The operator of the natural gas rig burning out of control in the Gulf of Mexico has begun preparations to move a jack-up rig to the location to potentially drill a relief well, federal authorities said Wednesday. The well suffered a blowout Tuesday morning and the rig caught fire later Tuesday night when the leaking natural gas ignited, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement confirmed early Wednesday morning.
No one was on board at the time of the ignition and no one was injured, according to BSEE. The burning rig is southwest of Grand Isle, about 55 miles offshore, authorities said.
BSEE and Coast Guard officials flew over the site on Wednesday morning and BSEE stated that there was no sheen observed on the water surface. A sheen a mile long by 50 feet wide had been reported during a flyover Tuesday.
As the rig fire continued, the beams supporting the derrick and rig floor folded and collapsed over the rig structure, BSEE stated.
The Coast Guard confirmed the rig caught fire at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. BSEE said the source of the ignition was not known.
No one was on board at the time of the ignition and no one was injured, according to BSEE. The burning rig is southwest of Grand Isle, about 55 miles offshore, authorities said.
BSEE and Coast Guard officials flew over the site on Wednesday morning and BSEE stated that there was no sheen observed on the water surface. A sheen a mile long by 50 feet wide had been reported during a flyover Tuesday.
As the rig fire continued, the beams supporting the derrick and rig floor folded and collapsed over the rig structure, BSEE stated.
The Coast Guard confirmed the rig caught fire at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. BSEE said the source of the ignition was not known.
The National Response Center, which takes calls about spills and other industrial incidents, received a report around 11 a.m. Tuesday from a caller who said "a drilling rig incurred a well blow resulting in a release of approximately 7 barrels an hour," according to the report. The description of the incident also lists that 47 people had been evacuated from the rig, although that number later was corrected to 44 evacuees.
"It is definitely a gas leak. There is definitely no crude oil at all," Maisano said on Wednesday afternoon.
The rig is owned by Hercules Offshore, based in Houston, and operated by Houston-based Walter Oil & Gas Corp., according to BSEE.
Jim Noe, an executive vice president with rig owner Hercules Offshore, said on Wednesday that the well was about 8,000-feet below the surface of the seafloor.
Coast Guard and BSEE officials would not immediately comment on the report's accuracy or who had reported the release of crude oil. Often, the National Response Center is notified of an incident and then the response center contacts the local Coast Guard office, which will check out the report.
"This is not going to be another BP oil spill." - Terrebonne President Michel Claudet
But Frank Maisano, a media consultant for Hercules Offshore, said that "was a very preliminary report and probably is in error.""It is definitely a gas leak. There is definitely no crude oil at all," Maisano said on Wednesday afternoon.
The rig is owned by Hercules Offshore, based in Houston, and operated by Houston-based Walter Oil & Gas Corp., according to BSEE.
Jim Noe, an executive vice president with rig owner Hercules Offshore, said on Wednesday that the well was about 8,000-feet below the surface of the seafloor.
"Our singular focus right now is to regain control of the well," Noe said. "After that, we will look for a root cause to what happened, try to find out how this accident happened in the first place."
The blowout occurred as Walter Oil & Gas was completing work on a "sidetrack well" to prepare that well for new production, according to BSEE. A sidetrack well uses the same hole as the original well but then spreads to a new location at the same depth.
Walter Oil and Gas Corp. engaged Wild Well Control Inc. to help control the leak, Noe said.
Eileen Angelico, a BSEE spokeswoman, said on Wednesday that the well had a blowout preventer, but "no determinations have been made as to whether the blowout preventer was activated or functioned properly."
"That will be part of BSEE's comprehensive investigation into the cause of the loss of well control," Angelico said.
Noe said that, "once things settle, we will certainly start looking at potential causes, including the BOP," referencing the blowout preventer.
The blowout occurred as Walter Oil & Gas was completing work on a "sidetrack well" to prepare that well for new production, according to BSEE. A sidetrack well uses the same hole as the original well but then spreads to a new location at the same depth.
Walter Oil and Gas Corp. engaged Wild Well Control Inc. to help control the leak, Noe said.
Eileen Angelico, a BSEE spokeswoman, said on Wednesday that the well had a blowout preventer, but "no determinations have been made as to whether the blowout preventer was activated or functioned properly."
"That will be part of BSEE's comprehensive investigation into the cause of the loss of well control," Angelico said.
Noe said that, "once things settle, we will certainly start looking at potential causes, including the BOP," referencing the blowout preventer.
The failure of a blowout preventer played a central role in the BP disaster in the Gulf in 2010. That catastrophe resulted in 11 deaths and millions of gallons of crude oil spewing into the Gulf. But authorities say this accident is nowhere near that scale.
"Nothing that I have received to date has caused me to panic in any way or form," Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said Tuesday. "This is not going to be another BP oil spill."
Nonetheless, officials are monitoring the situation closely, especially in Jefferson Parish where the annual Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo starts on Thursday. That event is expected to draw more than 15,000 sport and recreational fishers and tourists to Grand Isle. Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts said Wednesday morning that there are no changes expected to the Tarpon Rodeo because of the fire, except that there will be a 5-mile safe zone around the rig.
BSEE had stated on Tuesday that a firefighting vessel was expected to be on location on Tuesday evening with both water and foam fire fighting abilities. The Coast Guard cutter is on the scene maintaining a 500-meter safety zone, "assuring that no vessels or persons get close to the vicinity of the rig so that they aren't placed in danger," Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said on Wednesday morning.
The blowout happened about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. All 44 people on the rig -- which BSEE corrected late Tuesday from the earlier reports of 47 people on the rig -- were safely evacuated, authorities said.
"BSEE's efforts today are focused on bringing this loss of well control event to a safe resolution," Lars Herbst, BSEE's Gulf of Mexico regional director, said Tuesday. "Offshore oil and gas operators need to reaffirm their aggressive approach to the safety of well operations in light of this event and other recent well control events."
"Nothing that I have received to date has caused me to panic in any way or form," Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said Tuesday. "This is not going to be another BP oil spill."
Nonetheless, officials are monitoring the situation closely, especially in Jefferson Parish where the annual Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo starts on Thursday. That event is expected to draw more than 15,000 sport and recreational fishers and tourists to Grand Isle. Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts said Wednesday morning that there are no changes expected to the Tarpon Rodeo because of the fire, except that there will be a 5-mile safe zone around the rig.
BSEE had stated on Tuesday that a firefighting vessel was expected to be on location on Tuesday evening with both water and foam fire fighting abilities. The Coast Guard cutter is on the scene maintaining a 500-meter safety zone, "assuring that no vessels or persons get close to the vicinity of the rig so that they aren't placed in danger," Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said on Wednesday morning.
The blowout happened about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. All 44 people on the rig -- which BSEE corrected late Tuesday from the earlier reports of 47 people on the rig -- were safely evacuated, authorities said.
"BSEE's efforts today are focused on bringing this loss of well control event to a safe resolution," Lars Herbst, BSEE's Gulf of Mexico regional director, said Tuesday. "Offshore oil and gas operators need to reaffirm their aggressive approach to the safety of well operations in light of this event and other recent well control events."
No injuries were reported in the incident on the Hercules No. 265 rig. The workers escaped the rig on two Hercules lifeboats, then transferred to an offshore supply vessel, the Max Cheramie, according to the Coast Guard.
The rig was 55 miles offshore in 154 feet of water, according to BSEE.
The evacuees were taken to Port Fourchon. Claudet said that a command center has been established atLouisiana 56 and Woodlawn Ranch Road in Houma.
Matthew Tarr, the chair of the University of New Orleans chemistry department, said the gas and the fire likely would not impact nearby communities because any chemicals likely would burn off in the fire or dissipate in the atmosphere before reaching land.
The rig was 55 miles offshore in 154 feet of water, according to BSEE.
The evacuees were taken to Port Fourchon. Claudet said that a command center has been established atLouisiana 56 and Woodlawn Ranch Road in Houma.
Matthew Tarr, the chair of the University of New Orleans chemistry department, said the gas and the fire likely would not impact nearby communities because any chemicals likely would burn off in the fire or dissipate in the atmosphere before reaching land.
PHOTO: Burning rig in Gulf “begins to implode” — Support beams folded and collapsed — Gov’t “very tight-lipped about what’s going on with rig today” — Firefighting vessels forced to move away
http://theadvocate.com/news/6596287-123/rig-fire-in-gulf-may
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