Ciudad Del Carmen, Campeche — Three water vessels were sent to a platform in the Gulf of Mexico Friday after a valve burst, causing a massive fire. The fire was registered about 150 meters from the Ku-Charly platform within the Ku Maloob Zaap Integral Production Asset, which is owned by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
The fire was reported around 5:00 a.m. near the Ku Sierra platform. Three ships were sent to douse flames, thus avoiding any direct risk toward the Ku Sierra platform. It was reported that dive experts in accident control were sent down to close and repair the burst valves, which is located approximately 78 meters below the surface.
According to Pemex information, “at 5:15 a.m. a gas leak was registered in the 12-inch submarine pipeline and the presence of fire in the sea, 150 meters from the KU-Charly satellite platform, located in the Campeche Sound belonging to the Ku-Maloob-Zaap Production Asset, attached to the Northeast Offshore Region Production Sub-Directorate of Pemex Exploración y Producción.
“The incident was dealt with immediately when the security protocols were activated and with the accompaniment of nearby firefighting vessels such as Santa Cruz Island, Campeche Bay and Bourbon Alienor,” Pemex explained in their statement.
The company said the interconnection valves in the pipeline were closed, since the fire and the gas emanation were extinguished, and the contingency was concluded around 10:45 a.m., so normal operating conditions were restored.
Petróleos Mexicanos reported that there were no injuries or evacuees. It also indicated that it will carry out a root cause analysis of the incident.
