December 7, 2024 - Update on Nov 16 Incident

Details: Created on Wednesday, 12 December 2024 13:50

Update on Nov 16 Incident

An explosion and fire occurred at approximately 8:45 a.m. CST, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 on the Black Elk Energy Offshore Operation LLC (Black Elk) West Delta 32 Block platform, located in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 17 miles southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana, in 52 feet of water. The fire was extinguished in approximately one hour.
The incident occurred when workers were engaged in a construction project on the Platform. The platform, which was used for pumping oil to the surface rather than drilling, had been shut-in and not in production since mid-August.
There were 24 workers on the Platform at the time of the incident employed by the following companies: Grand Isle Shipyards, Inc. (GIS), DNR Offshore and Crewing Services, Inc., Wood Group Production Services, Shamrock Management, Encore Food Services, and Enviro-Tech. No Black Elk employees were on the Platform at the time of the incident.
After the incident, five workers were taken to area hospitals. Three workers who suffered burns during the platform fire are being treated at the Baton Rouge Medical Center. Two workers who received minor injuries were treated at a local hospital and released on the day of the incident.
Two workers were reported missing after the incident. The body of Ellroy Corporal was recovered on November 17, 2024 and Jerome Malagapo, 28, was found and confirmed deceased on November 28, 2012. A third worker, Avelino Tajonera, 49, died in a New Orleans hospital on November 23, 2012.
A massive search was conducted for the two missing workers, including by the Coast Guard, which searched more than 1,400 square miles of Gulf waters during more than 100 hours. In addition Black Elk hired three commercial dive boats; retained search and rescue dogs; initiated an inland water and near-beach search with the Plaquemines Parish Sherriff's Department; requested all helicopter companies that fly in the area to help conduct visual search efforts; and completed a 150 foot outside perimeter sweep surrounding the platform.
The National Response Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) were promptly notified of the incident.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by Black Elk and BSEE, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, and has not yet been determined. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board issued a subpoena to Black Elk for documents related to the incident. Black Elk is fully cooperating with all government agencies. Black Elk engaged ABS Consulting ("ABS") to assist with the Company's investigation in order to make a cause and origin determination. ABS has not yet completed its work and has not yet provided a report.
Black Elk dispatched two oil spill recovery vessels to the scene to evaluate any potential environmental impact and conduct spill recovery efforts. Based on an analysis of the sheen observed after the incident, the Company reported the spill totaled less than 1 barrel. Based on preliminary estimates of the contents of the tanks involved in the incident, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement requested that Black Elk also report a loss amount of 480 barrels. There was no loss of containment from any well connected to the Platform. There was no loss of oil after the fire was controlled. There is no ongoing spill.
Black Elk engaged ES&H Training and Consulting Group to clean the platform to prevent residual oil on the platform from being washed or blown into the Gulf of Mexico. That work has been completed.
Founded in 2007, Black Elk is an independent oil and gas company that holds interests in properties in U.S. federal and state waters, including 854 wells on 155 platforms.