GofM Oil Well Loss of Control Update

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has clarified its earlier announcement concerning the loss of control over a well being drilled by operator EnVen from the jack-up rig 'Rowan Louisiana' in the Gulf of Mexico, saying "that the flow [of natural gas] was diverted overboard and work is on-going to shut down the well."

According to Bloomberg, Rowan and EnVen, a privately held producer based in Metairie, Louisiana, evacuated 42 non-essential workers from Rowan Louisiana rig yesterday, while 37 remain to try to get the well under control.

Citing Jonathan Garrett, chief operating officer of EnVen Energy Ventures LLC, the well operator that hired Rowan, Bloomberg add that three boats are on standby at the shallow-water well site 108 miles (173 kilometers) southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana, in case they’re needed for additional evacuations.

It was explained that there has been no fire, explosion or oil spill, but the company is circulating seawater to try to bring the well under control.

BSEE and the US Coast Guard are continuing to monitor the situation.

Source: BSEE/Bloomberg