1 dead, 3 hurt in Gulf of Mexico platform blast

One man was killed and three others injured when an explosion occurred on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the the  U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) the explosion happened at West Delta 105 block in the Gulf of Mexico, around 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 3pm yesterday afternoon (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. More information will be provided as it becomes available,” the BSEE said in a statement.

USAToday has quoted this statement by Fieldwood Energy: “At Fieldwood Energy, our top priority is the safety of our employees and contractors. This incident just occurred, so we do not have many details at this point. The incident occurred at the West Delta 105 “E” facility, which is located offshore Louisiana. One employee of a contractor was fatally injured and a second contractor employee was seriously injured.

“We have accounted for all other personnel who were working at the facility. This was an isolated incident that has been fully contained. The facility was not damaged and there was no pollution that resulted from the incident. We currently are working hand-in-hand with emergency response personnel and will provide further updates once we learn additional information. In the interim, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured contractor employees.”