Workers involved in the deadly accident at Fieldwood Energy’s Echo platform at West Delta 105 on Thursday, worked for contractors conducting routine maintenance on the platform, according to the US Bureau of Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
The workers were employed by Laffayette, Lousiana, based Turnkey Cleaning Services GOM, said operator Fieldwood Energy.
Fieldwood Energy called the accident an isolated pressure event, which occurred inside the heater treater, which was being cleaned by Turnkey Cleaning Services, and the event did not result in a fire. The platform was shut-in at the time of the blast, and had not been producing for more than a week, the operator said.
“This incident was not related to a drilling operation, but instead, occurred during maintenance operations at the platform. There was no oil spill or pollution that resulted from this incident and it was contained immediately after it occurred with no damage to the environment, the platform, or the platform's wells," Fieldwood Energy said on Friday.
Damage to the facility is reported to be limited to the heater treater, BSEE confirmed to OE.
Of the three injured, Fieldwood Energy said that one worker had "visible injuries" and was flown to New Orleans’ West Jefferson Hospital. The other two injured workers noted ringing in their ears, and were also flown in for treatment. All three have been treated and released from the hospital.
Fieldwood Energy also expressed the company’s condolences for the workers injured.
"At Fieldwood Energy, our top priority is the safety of our employees and contractors. We regret that yesterday afternoon there was an incident at our West Delta 105 "E" platform," the Houston-based company said.
The explosion occurred around 3pm CST on 20 November. BSEE said that it dispatched teams on-site to actively investigating the accident to determine the cause of the explosion.
Prior to the deadly blast, Turnkey Cleaning Services said on its website that the company had zero accidents or lost time incidents since 2009. Calls to Turnkey Cleaning Services were not immediately returned.
Image from Fieldwood Energy.
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Platform explosion kills 1, injures 3
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