The fire originated at the Nohoch-A platform within Pemex's Cantarell Field, which was previously renowned as one of the world's most productive oil fields. It subsequently spread to a neighboring compression platform. Pemex stated that at the time of the fire, 328 workers were present on the compression platform, with 321 successfully evacuated. Six workers sustained injuries.
Ing. Octavio Romero Oropeza, the Director General of PEMEX, emphasized the timely arrival of counterfire vessels, which effectively prevented the fire from spreading to other platforms at the Nohoch Process Center. The incident was contained within a single platform out of the total five.
Romero Oropeza emphasized the utmost importance of safety for PEMEX personnel and the employees of partner companies. While three PEMEX workers were injured, fortunately, they are now out of danger. Two of them have returned home, while the third individual, with burns covering 35% of their body, will be transferred to the South Central Hospital of High Specialty in Picacho, Mexico City, for specialized burn care, though their life is no longer at risk.
He further noted that five individuals from a private company were injured, but none of them are in life-threatening condition. Regrettably, two employees from the private company lost their lives, and one person remains missing. Romero Oropeza assured that all those affected would receive comprehensive support from Petróleos Mexicanos and their respective employers.
Regarding production, the Director General mentioned that the incident would impact several thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent, encompassing both oil and gas. Efforts will be made to expedite the resumption of production through defined strategies, aiming to minimize the downtime at the affected Process Center.
He also confirmed that the fire has been successfully controlled, and investigations will be carried out to determine the root cause.
The fire incident adds to a series of accidents that have occurred at Pemex facilities. In 2013, an explosion at a Pemex office building in Mexico City claimed the lives of 37 people, while a fire at a Pemex oil refinery in Veracruz resulted in 33 fatalities in 2015.
Pemex, Mexico's largest company and the largest oil producer in Latin America, has a long history of safety issues. In 2019, the nonprofit organization Oil Change International ranked Pemex as the world's most dangerous oil company.
The fire at the Nohoch-A platform serves as a reminder of the risks associated with oil production and underscores the imperative for Pemex to enhance its safety standards. (ILKHA)