The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) responded to an Energy XXI, GOM-operated platform that was damaged by a fire in South Timbalier (ST) Block 27 in the Gulf of Mexico.
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The unmanned ST 27 IA platform. Image from BSEE. |
The unmanned ST 27 IA platform is located in South Timbalier 21, approximately 5 mi. south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, in 50 feet of water.
According to BSEE, Energy XXI reported that the ST 27 IA platform had been damaged, possibly by a vessel, at approximately 4:30 a.m. on 23 January. There was a fire on the platform, which was extinguished through firefighting efforts by vessels in the area. Energy XXI reports that there are gas bubbles intermittently rising to the surface and no other pollution has been observed. No injuries were reported.
Energy XXI says that there were three wells producing oil at the time of the incident, howeve, an emergency shut down was successfully performed and production has been shut-in.
As weather allows, both BSEE and Energy XXI will have personnel at the scene to determine the extent of the damage. BSEE is providing oversight to the operator’s response efforts. BSEE and the US Coast Guard will investigate the incident.
South Timbalier 21, the 10th largest oil field on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, includes acreage in South Timbalier blocks 21, 22, 23, 27 and 28, as well as two state leases. The field is bounded on the north by a major Miocene expansion fault. Miocene sands are trapped structurally and stratigraphically from 7000-15,000ft in depth.
In addition to South Timbalier 21, Energy XXI also operates South Timbalier 54 in the Gulf of Mexico.
South Timbalier 54 field is located 36 mi. offshore Lafourche Parish, Louisiana in approximately 65ft water depth. Pleistocene through Miocene sands are trapped from 4800-17,000ft in shallow low relief structures over a deeper seated salt dome. The main targets for the South Timbalier 54 field are the A, D, G, and H sands.
Last year, Energy XXI acquired EPL Oil & Gas for US$1.53 billion. After the acquisition, the Houston-based company was said to worth $6 billion.
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