APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
One person has been declared dead and three others missing as Seplat Energy’s Depthwise swamp drilling rig “Majestic” rig near Ovhor in Delta State collapsed on Tuesday.
The Chief Executive Officer of Seplat, Mr. Roger Brown, said in a statement that the unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, August 15, 2023
He stated that the rig capsized when Seplat as the operator of the SEPLAT/NNPCL joint venture was in-transit to its planned drilling location at Ovhor in Delta State.
According to the statement, 92 of the 96-member crew have been accounted for and are safe.
“However, tragically one fatality occurred during the incident, while three other rig personnel are still missing.
“The company has since sent out its emergency response and rescue team who are working effortlessly alongside the rig owner and the authorities and have been activated and are onsite,” the statement said.
It added that the company while announcing the serious incident, prayed that the families and friends of the crew member, who sadly lost his life and the three crew members who are still missing at the time of this report.
Seplat’s utmost priority, according to Brown, will continue to be the safety and wellbeing of all the affected personnel and their families and that a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident will follow.
GIK/APA