None of missing oilmen found yet
By Aynur Karimova
None of the missing 26 oilmen were found as of 16:00 local time, Balamirza Agarahimov, the chief engineer at Azneft Production Union of Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR, told journalists on December 9.
Last Friday, a fire broke out on the offshore platform #10 of SOCAR’s Gunashli field, after an underwater high-pressure gas pipeline was damaged in strong storm. Out of 63 people who were on platform at the moment of accident only 33 were rescued, while 23 are still regarded missing with seven dead.
Also, as a result of the storm, a booth on base #501 got washed out to the sea at approximately 12:30 local time, on December 4. At the time, the booth contained three people - Javad Khudaverdiyev, Bahman Jafarov and Rovshan Mammadov.
Agarahimov said that the search for oilmen is being conducted using the helicopters of Azerbaijan Airlines and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, as well as the ships of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company.
“Five ships continue the fire-fighting actions,” he added.
Agarahimov also noted that experts from the well control company Boots & Coots continue their work, and tomorrow they will meet with the officials from the headquarters dealing with the disaster.
"They will discuss further actions," he added. “They [Boots & Coots] asked for the scheme of the platform, the equipment installed and others."
He noted that oil extraction at the platform has been suspended until the fire is put out.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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