Offshore staff

NEW ORLEANS – Shell has confirmed the loss of 319 bbl of drilling fluids from a contract drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The leak is a synthetic, biodegradable drilling fluid.

A booster line to provide extra drilling fluid was the source of the leak, and Shell will temporarily abandon the Appomattox well in Mississippi Canyon to pull the drilling riser and make repairs.

The remediation has received approval from the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, says Shell, and there never were any well control issues.

12/20/2011