Drill Rig Partially Evacuated in Gulf of Mexico
A well-control problem has apparently lead to the partial evacuation of a drill rig that was working in the Gulf of Mexico, in Vermilion lease block 356, about 93 miles off the coast of Louisiana. This is way out on the continental shelf, close to the shelf edge, but the water here is still relatively shallow – less than 300′ deep:
Vermilion Block 356 shown in orange, 93 miles offshore.
There is only one platform in this block, operated by EnVen Energy Ventures, LLC, and installed in 2000. You can look it up here. The drill rig, a jackup rig called the Rowan Louisiana, may or may not have been working at this platform. The only information we have so far is from a few brief news articles. If you learn more, please let us know–comment on this blog, on our Facebook page, or send us an email.
More info from Rigzone. Natural gas blowout, no injuries or fire reported. http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/131358/Personnel_Evacuates_from_Rig_Platform_after_Well_Control_Loss_in_GOM
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/01/coast_guard_bsee_respond_to_na.html
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
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on January 30, 2014 at 5:34 PM, updated January 30, 2014 at 5:55 PM
The Coast Guard and the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are responding to a loss of well control event at a natural gas well off Louisiana's coast being drilled by EnVen, a Metairie-based oil and gas company.
The well is located at Vermilion Block 356, about 108 miles south of Lafayette. No injuries have been reported, and personnel aboard a jack-up rig have been evacuated.
"The operator, EnVen, reported that it was drilling from the jack-up rig, Rowan Louisiana, when the well began to flow natural gas," said a news release issued by BSEE. "The flow was diverted overboard and work is ongoing to shut9in the well. No visible sheen has been reported."
"The rig was jacked-up over the A-Platform, which was producing oil and gas," the release said. "All production was shut-in and remains shut-in."
The Coast Guard has an HU-25 Falcon aircraft in the area to assess the situation. BSEE is investigating the incident.
Hey! Great map. Can I use it on this post for NOLA.com?
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/01/crews_lose_control_of_natural.html
Will source you and list your link if you give permission.
Carlie
Carlie – feel free. Thanks for asking – if it is published, please send us the link.
Apparently the well has been successfully killed – http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Gas-no-longer-escaping-from-rig-off-La-coast-5196198.php – good think it wasn't an oil well.