Oil workers sue Shell, Enbridge over platform fire injuries

Three oil workers have reportedly sued Shell and Enbridge over alleged injuries sustained in a recent platform blast in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The three workers claim they sustained severe injuries and have asked for $1 million in damages, Reuters has reported.

The incident happened on November 9, when a fire broke out on the Shell-operated Enchilada oil platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, spurring Shell to shut in the platform.

A total of 46 crew members were evacuated from the platform to a lifeboat and were then transferred to a nearby platform, Salsa, by the offshore supply vessel C-Liberty. Initial reports claimed that two workers had been injured.

The U.S. safety authorities in November informed that a 54-year-old male suffered from flash burns and a concussion, and a 29-year-old male suffered a sprained wrist and a concussion. Shell launched an emergency helicopter and medevaced both people and transferred them to the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. It’s not clear who the third worker is, nor what injuries he sustained.

Asked for a comment on the lawsuit, a Shell spokesperson told Offshore Energy Today: “Since this is pending litigation and the incident is still under investigation by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and Enbridge, we respectfully decline to comment.”

Enbridge, which operates a pipeline running from the platform, did not reply to our request to comment at the time of writing.

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.