Search of missing oil workers underway despite bad weather

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Despite the bad weather conditions, search for the missing oil workers continues, Trendreported on December 9 with reference to the operational headquarters established in connection with the fire on the platform No 10 of the Gunashli oil field.

Last Friday, a fire broke out on the offshore platform No 10 of SOCAR’s Gunashli field, after an underwater high-pressure gas pipeline was damaged in strong storm.

Out of 63 people who were on platform at the moment of accident only 33 were rescued, while 23 are still regarded missing with seven dead.

The wind speed hit 38-40 meters per second, while the storm lasted for about 27 hours. As a result of strong wind, the height of waves reached a height of 8-10 meters. The waves caused an explosion on one of the pipes running from one of the gas wells to the platform No 10. The explosion did not link to the deck or wells. The explosion of the gas lift pipeline caused a fire on the platform.

Also, as a result of the storm, a booth on base #501 got washed out to the sea at approximately 12:30 local time, on December 4. At the time, the booth contained three people - Javad Khudaverdiyev, Bahman Jafarov and Rovshan Mammadov.

Nizamaddin Guliyev, SOCAR's spokesperson, said at a press conference on December 8 that none of 26 Azerbaijani oil workers have been found as of 20:00 local time.

Currently, the work to restore electricity and communication is underway on the platform.

Guliyev added that the specialists of Boots & Coots Company visited the platform and became familiar with the situation. Currently, they are on the platform #5 and are working out a plan for the further activities. Possibly, the specialists of the Boots & Coots Company will involve their own technology for extinguishing the fire.