Moment huge oil rig sinks into the ocean as search for survivors continues
This is the shocking moment a giant oil rig sank off the coast of Gabon on Saturday.
Early reports say that one employee was killed and four others were missing in the incident.
An Indian national, one of the five initially unaccounted for, has been found dead. The remaining four missing include three Gabonese nationals and one other expatriate.
The Prospector 5 rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling, went down late on Saturday off the coast of Mayumba, Gabon. There were 115 people on board.
The government has not confirmed the death. It has said instead that five people remain missing and that search efforts are ongoing.
“Preliminary information indicates that the rig experienced a punch-through event during preload activities, resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig,” the offshore drilling contractor said.
The Prospector 5 oil and gas rig is contracted to support BW Energy’s drilling operations off Gabon. It had not yet begun drilling.
The rig sits at the Dussafu Marin permit, a licence off the Gabon coast. BW Energy holds a 73.5 per cent working interest in the licence, while Panoro Energy holds 17.5 per cent.
Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas said it had activated a crisis unit. It also ordered the navy to reinforce search and rescue operations at sea, the ministry said.
The ministry ordered a technical investigation as well, Petroleum and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja said in a statement.
The crisis unit brings together the ministry, the navy, state oil company Gabon Oil, BW Energy and Borr Drilling, Kondja said.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. (20:40 GMT) on Saturday in the Dussafu Marin permit area near the Mabomont production facility, the ministry said.
“We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident,” said Borr Drilling Chief Executive Bruno Morand.
“Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.”
