Fire at Shell Platform in GoM Leaves Two Injured

Shell has informed that a fire broke out at its Enchilada platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

The fire is associated with a 30-inch gas export pipeline, the company said.

Following the incident Shell evacuated all 46 personnel working on the platform, of which two were injured.

A 54-year-old male suffered from flash burns and a concussion, and a 29-year-old male suffered from a sprained wrist and a concussion, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) informed. Both have been treated and released from the hospital.

The platform has been shut in. The fire has been reduced to a small flame coming out of a pipe on the platform. There is report of a light sheen north of the Enchilada platform, BSEE said.

In addition, production at the Auger and Salsa platforms and nearby fields have also been shut in.

Shell said that for safety reasons, it has chosen to allow the gas discharge (3-6 foot flame) to burn while the pipeline is being safely depressurized.

US Coast Guard and Shell contracted vessels are on site monitoring the situation. As a precautionary measure, a Clean Gulf Association oil spill response vessel has been mobilized, and other vessels are on standby.

Shell personnel performed a visual assessment of the Enchilada platform and based on those observations, the asset appears to be structurally sound.

Shell, USCG and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are investigating the cause of the incident.

“No harm to people or the environment is ever acceptable and Shell deeply regrets that this incident occurred,” the company said in a press statement.