Getty Images Europe
Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at an October 2014 conference
Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at an October 2014 conference
Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at an October 2014 conference
Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at an October 2014 conference
Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at an October 2014 conference

Four Dead, 16 Injured as Pemex Oil Platform Explodes

April 1, 2015
Some 300 workers were taken to other platforms in the area while the injured were transported to Pemex's general hospital in Ciudad de Carmen.

MEXICO CITY - An explosion and a fire erupted on an offshore oil platform operated by Mexico's Pemex on Wednesday, killing at least four workers, injuring 16 and forcing 300 to be evacuated.

Eight firefighting vessels were battling the pre-dawn blaze at the Abkatun A-Permanente platform on the Gulf of Mexico's Campeche Sound, the state-run firm said in a statement.

The blast took place at 3:40 a.m. in the dehydration and pump area of the platform, located off the coast of eastern Campeche state, the ASEA energy safety agency said in a separate statement.

Some 300 workers were taken to other platforms in the area while the injured were transported to Pemex's general hospital in Ciudad de Carmen. Two were in serious condition.

Pemex has not indicated whether the accident caused any oil spill.

AFP obtained a video taken from a boat showing huge flames and smoke engulfing much of the platform in the middle of the night.

Mexican media published pictures of firefighting vessels battling the blaze with water cannons as a huge column of smoke went skyward.

"Regrettably, the death of four workers in the accident on the Abkatun A-Permanente platform has been confirmed," Pemex wrote on its Twitter account, raising an earlier toll of one dead contractor from the Cotemar company.

"The priority in this emergency is to protect the safety of personnel, contain the fire and care for the injured," the ASEA agency said, adding that all the workers were removed from the rig.

ASEA said it was its responsibility to analyze the cause of the incident to determine the actions needed to ensure industrial safety.

The fire is latest incident to hit the state oil firm in recent years.

In January 2013, a gas buildup caused an explosion at the company's Mexico City headquarters, killing 37 people.

A natural gas plant explosion killed 30 people near the northeastern state of Tamaulipas in September 2012.

President Enrique Pena Nieto pushed through a sweeping energy reform bill last year that opens the sector to foreign investors in a bid to reverse falling production and modernize aging infrastructure.

Pemex, which provides a third of Mexico's tax revenue, posted a $17.7 billion loss in 2014, hit by falling global oil prices, fuel thefts by gangs and the peso's drop against the dollar.

The government will hold its first auction in July for shallow-water projects on the Gulf of Mexico.

By Laurent THOMET

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!