The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responding to an equipment failure on board the Deepwater Nautilus semisubmersible drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 100 miles south of Fourchon, Louisiana.
The offshore oil and gas operator, Shell Offshore Inc., reported that on June 9 during well operations, the rig’s traveling block fell. The traveling block is a large piece of equipment that supports the top drive which rotates drill pipe.
Shell is monitoring the well. There are no reports of injuries to personnel. There is no reported pollution. The project is limited to drilling; no production was affected by the incident.
BSEE engineers and inspectors have been discussing the on-going response with Shell and will travel offshore to the rig to investigate as soon as weather allows.
BSEE said it would investigate the incident and provide more information as it becomes available.