Black Elk Energy Still Searching for Missing Offshore Worker (USA)

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC yesterday announced it would continue the search efforts throughout the night for the worker who went missing in an offshore oil platform explosion.

The worker has been unaccounted for since Friday, November 16, when the explosion hit the Black Elk-operated oil platform located at West Delta 32 Block, in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico approximately 17 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La, sending two workers overboard.

A body of one of the missing workers has been recovered. There were 22 workers on the platform at the time of the incident.

“We will continue with ongoing dive operations. We remain focused on the victims and their families, including those injured in the incident. An official investigation continues and we will continue to cooperate with all authorities as this process develop,” said the company in a statement.

The production platform on which the explosion occurred has been shut in since mid-August.

Coast Guard suspends search

The U.S. Coast Guard crews searched a 1,400 square-mile area for more than 32 hours in an effort to locate the two missing crewmembers, and on Saturday at approximately 5:25 p.m. decided to suspend the search.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on Friday began an investigation into the explosion and fire.

Related:

Black Elk Recovers Body of Crew Member. One Still Missing (USA)

Fire Catches GoM Platform. Two Workers Missing

[mappress]

Offshore Energy Today Staff, November 20, 2012