In a startling incident, Seplat Energy’s drilling rig, the Depthwize Majestic Rig, capsized and partially sunk during a delicate move in the swampy Delta region. This happened around 5:00 AM on a Tuesday, leading to urgent efforts to rescue the rig’s crew.
The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NUPRC) quickly confirmed the news and stated that search and rescue operations are in progress to locate and save the people who were on the rig. Reports indicate that there were 96 people on the rig when it capsized.
The rig had recently finished drilling the Gbetiokun-11 well for NEPL and was being relocated to the planned Ovhor-21 well site. Unfortunately, during this move, the rig capsized, leaving part of it underwater and prompting a race against time to save those stranded.
Seplat Energy acted promptly by informing the NUPRC about the incident and has also started investigations to understand why the rig capsized.
Rescue efforts are in full swing, with specialized divers searching the Delta’s waters. Encouragingly, news has emerged that 92 people have been rescued from the rig. Sadly, one person lost their life in the incident.
Seplat Energy’s hospital is currently caring for the rescued crew, ensuring their immediate medical needs are met.
NUPRC is committed to keeping the public informed as the investigation progresses. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks in the petroleum sector. As the industry reflects on this, discussions about safety protocols, operational procedures, and risk management are expected to take centre stage.
