A Borr Drilling jack-up rig has sunk off the coast of Gabon, leaving one worker dead and four others missing. The Prospector 5 went down late Saturday in the Dussafu Marin permit area with 115 people on board.
One hundred ten personnel have been safely accounted for. The four missing workers are three Gabonese nationals and one expatriate. An Indian national among those initially unaccounted for was found dead.
Initial reports point to a punch-through event during preload activities, causing a loss of stability and the rig's subsequent sinking. The unit had not yet begun drilling.
Search and official response
Gabon's Ministry of Petroleum and Gas activated a crisis unit and ordered the navy to reinforce search and rescue operations at sea. The ministry also ordered a technical investigation. The crisis unit includes the ministry, the navy, state oil company Gabon Oil, BW Energy and Borr Drilling.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. local time near the Mabomont production facility. Authorities said no discharge of harmful substances has been observed, and pollution-response resources remain deployed to protect the coastline and nearby Mayumba National Park.
Effect on licence operations
BW Energy holds a 73.5 percent working interest in the Dussafu Marin licence, with Panoro Energy holding 17.5 percent. Panoro Energy said production had been halted, with no reports of damage or accidental discharges.
Borr Drilling Chief Executive Bruno Morand said, 'We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident.'
For owners, charterers and brokers, the sinking removes a contracted drilling unit from the Dussafu campaign and opens a formal inquiry into jack-up preload procedures. Incidents involving loss of stability during preload typically prompt underwriters to review operational procedures and risk pricing for similar units.
Cover image: Gary Bembridge from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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