Update: The Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement (BSEE) announced that weighted drilling fluids pumped into well A-7 stopped the uncontrolled gas flow in Vermilion block 356 in the Gulf of Mexico.
BSEE approved operator EnVen’s plan to kill the well with mud, and the pumping began the afternoon of 31 January 2014.
BSEE still requires additional work at the site, including setting of barriers to ensure no further gas release.
On 30 January 2014, the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the US Coast Guard responded to an incident, after crews reported a loss of well control in the Vermilion Block 356, about 108mi southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana.
The well was being drilled by Rowan Companies PLC, and the rig operator is EnVen Energy Ventures of Metairie, Louisiana.
"Rowan’s (Lousiana) rig was operating on top of a platform fed by six already-producing wells," EnVen COO, Jonathan Garrett said in a phone interview with Bloomberg News. "When the company lost control of drilling on a seventh well beneath the platform, production on those six existing wells was stopped."
"All engines on the platform and rig -- potential ignition sources -- were turned off. The flow of gas, water and drilling fluids was diverted overboard, consistent with the emergency plan for the situation,"Garrett said. "To help prevent fire, seawater is being pumped into and over the flow stream," he added.
No visible sheen was reported said the BSEE, although gas was being vented off of the Louisiana while crews worked to kill the well.
Garrett said gas, water, and sand are flowing, but no pollution reached the Gulf of Mexico.
According to a BSEE spokeswoman, a platform that was producing oil and gas near the EnVen rig was shut down as a precaution.
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