Borr Drilling Jackup Loses Stability and Sinks off Gabon
[Breaking] On Saturday night, a jackup rig operated by Borr Drilling sank off the coast of Gabon, leaving one dead and four people missing.
According to Borr, the rig Prospector 5 was conducting pre-loading of its jackup legs when it suffered a punch-through - an accident in which the spudcan on the bottom of a leg suddenly penetrates the sediment, sinks into the mud and throws the rig into a list. The incident was severe enough that the rig lost stability and sank.
110 people were rescued, one has been found dead and four remain missing.
E&P leaseholder BW has confirmed the casualty and identified the location as its Dussafu license area off the coast of Gabon.
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"We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident. Our immediate priority is supportingd the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved," Borr Drilling CEO Bruno Morand said in a statement on Sunday.
Punch-through events are among the most serious hazards for jackup operations. They occur without warning and severe cases can result in one leg falling several feet into the mud, creating a significant and sudden list. The biggest risks, according to training institute Pisys, occur when a stiffer layer overlays softer sediments, or when the composition of the silt isn't uniform - giving the operator the impression that the bottom has more holding power than it really does.
