Shell developing plan to repair fire-damaged asset in Gulf of Mexico

Following a fire on the Shell-operated Enchilada platform in the Gulf of Mexico last week, Shell is standing down its emergency response activities and developing a plan to repair the damage. 

To remind, two workers were injured in the fire incident on the Gulf of Mexico platform associated with a 30-inch gas export pipeline. Due to the fire, Shell shut in the Enchilada platform and all associated production as well as production at Auger and Salsa platforms and nearby fields.

After the fire was extinguished, Shell continued monitoring the platform and then started preparing for a detailed inspection of the infrastructure.

On Saturday, November 11 an assessment team confirmed isolation of the platform from the 30-inch gas export pipeline and no presence of uncontained hydrocarbons.

Shell said on Sunday it was in the process of developing a plan for repairing the damaged portions of the asset and re-deploying personnel but there was no timeline to resume normal operations.

More than 70 people from Shell and the United States Coast Guard worked together to respond to this incident. Throughout the response, Shell did not observe any signs of oil on the water associated with this incident.

Shell and the U.S. Bureau of Safety and the Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) are investigating the cause of the incident.

Other operators affected

In a separate statement on Monday, Hess oil company informed that all production coming into the Garden Banks Gas Pipeline system also remains shut in until further notice.

The Enbridge Offshore-operated Garden Banks Gas Pipeline extends from Garden Banks Block 128 to South Marsh Island Block 76, where it interconnects with four existing interstate pipelines to move gas onshore.

The pipeline transports production originating from the Auger platform in Garden Banks Block 426, the Enchilada platform in Garden Banks Block 128, the Baldpate platform in Garden Banks Block 260, the platform in South Marsh Island (SMI192) and the Magnolia Platform in Garden Banks 783.

Hess production is shut in at its Baldpate, Conger and Penn State fields. Production is also shut in at the Shell-operated Llano Field (Hess 50 percent interest). Hess production at these fields is approximately 30 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Hess added it continues to work closely with the operator to understand the timing for a restart.

Offshore Energy Today Staff