Scarabeo 5 rig fire: Saipem investigating, PSA gathering intel

Italian oilfield services provider and drilling contractor Saipem is looking into the cause of the engine room fire aboard its offshore drilling rig in Norway on Tuesday.

To remind, the fire broke out on Saipem’s Scarabeo 5 semi-submersible drilling rig which is employed on the Statoil-run Njord field in the Norwegian Sea.

Statoil said on Tuesday night that the fire, that broke out in one of the engine rooms on the rig, was put out around 20:30.

The rig is equipped with two engine rooms and a total of eight engines. There were 106 persons on board when the incident occurred; all of them were accounted for and none were missing. One person was sent ashore for a medical check, Statoil said on Tuesday.

No drilling operations were underway when the incident occurred.

Offshore Energy Today has reached out to Saipem and the Petroleum Safety Norway, seeking more info.

In a statement sent to Offshore Energy Today Saipem said: “Saipem has initiated an investigation on the Scarabeo 5 incident in which Statoil is also participating. Team members are composed of representatives from Saipem SpA , Saipem SpA Norway Branch, Statoil and the Coordinator of Safety Delegates.”

Petroleum Safety Authority, a Norwegian government-run oil industry safety watchdog said: “We have not yet decided if we are going to investigate the fire. We are currently working on gathering more information about the incident.”

The spokesperson said the safety body would release an official statement should it decide to start the investigation.

Offshore Energy Today Staff