GoM Offshore Platform Explodes, 1 Dead

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responding to an explosion at West Delta 105 in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 12 miles off the coast of New Orleans. The offshore oil and gas operator, Fieldwood Energy, reported the explosion on its Echo Platform just before 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 20.

The operator has reported that there is one fatality and three others being treated at an onshore medical facility as a result of the incident. The Echo Platform was not in production at the time of the incident. The facility damage was limited to the explosion area and there was no pollution reported.

BSEE is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard during the response. BSEE will investigate the incident.

In a statement, Fieldwood said one employee of a contractor was killed and a second contractor employee was seriously injured. There was no explanation for the discrepancy in the number of injured, reports Reuters.

Fieldwood said the platform was undamaged and that it had few details about the accident. "This was an isolated incident that has been fully contained," it said.