Two people were injured after a fire broke out on supermajor Shell's Enchilada platform in the US Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday morning, according to a joint report by the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
A 54-year-old male suffered flash burns and a concussion, and a 29-year-old male suffered from a sprained wrist and a concussion during the incident. Shell launched an emergency helicopter and medevaced the two injured people to the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Shell said that the two men have been treated and released.
According to Shell, the incident involves a fire associated with a 30in gas export pipeline. Production at Enchilada, Auger and Salsa platforms and nearby fields have been shut-in. Shell says that the Enchilada platform appears to be structurally sound, and it expects to conduct a more detailed analysis.
"There is no visual evidence of oil on the water near the incident site," Shell said in a statement on its website. "The source of the fire is isolated. For safety reasons, we have chosen to allow the gas discharge (3-6ft flame) to burn while the pipeline is being safely depressurized."
USCG and BSEE reported that 46 crewmembers were onboard during the fire. They were able to evacuate to a lifeboat and were transfered to the nearby Salsa platform with help from the C-Liberty offshore supply vessel.
Both agencies said that they received notice that the platform caught on fire at 1:20 am, approximately 112nm south of Vermilion Bay, Louisiana.
"The safety of our people and the environment are our priorities," Shell said in an earlier statement on its website. "No harm to people or the environment is ever acceptable, and Shell deeply regrets that this incident occurred."
Shell said that approximately 60 Shell employees and representatives from the USCG were mobilized and are responding to the incident. USCG and Shell contracted vessels are monitoring the situation. As a precaution, Shell said that a Clean Gulf Association oil spill response vessel has been mobilized, and other vessels are on standby waiting to respond.
Enchilada is in Garden Banks Block 128 in the US Gulf of Mexico.
Map from Shell.
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