A drilling rig capsized, causing multiple casualties!
On the evening of July 1, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that it had received an accident report from Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco) regarding the capsizing of the jack-up drilling rig Admarine 12 in the Gabal El-Zeit area north of the Red Sea Province.
After receiving the report, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Fouad and Minister of Labor Mohamed Gebran immediately rushed to the accident site to assess the accident, supervise the rescue operations and coordinate emergency response measures. The department is closely monitoring the development of the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities and related companies in the region to take necessary actions.
At the time of the incident, the Admarine 12 was being towed by three offshore workboats to a new work area at the Ashrafi platform, but capsized en route with 31 crew members and technicians on board. Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO) received a distress signal shortly thereafter.
Sources from Egypt’s oil sector confirmed that the accident has resulted in four deaths, six missing persons and 21 rescued people. The bodies of the victims salvaged are being transported to shore by sea rescue workers, and the search and rescue team is still searching for the six missing persons. The survivors all suffered varying degrees of injuries such as fractures, abrasions and bruises.
It is worth noting that the incident occurred in the Gabal El-Zeit region, approximately 300 kilometers south of the Suez Canal, an important trade route for Egypt, and one of the main oil production bases in Egypt’s Red Sea region. However, Egyptian officials have stated that the accident is not expected to disrupt navigation on the canal.
It is understood that the Admarine 12 is operating in a concession area held by Saudi oil and gas driller ADES and is drilling multiple oil wells. ADES has assigned Osoco to be responsible for drilling operations. ADES has not yet responded publicly.