Parker has incident on jackup rig

Sept. 15, 2003
Parker Drilling has reported that a malfunction occurred yesterday afternoon on its offshore jackup Rig 14J shortly before drilling operations were scheduled to begin. The company has accounted for all crew members, including some who were rescued by the US Coast Guard.

Parker Drilling has reported that a malfunction occurred yesterday afternoon on its offshore jackupRig 14J shortly before drilling operations were scheduled to begin. The company has accounted for all crew members, including some who were rescued by the US Coast Guard. The incident occurred at 4 pm on the rig near the Chandeleur Islands along the Mississippi-Louisiana coast. Forty one people were on board the rig, and all personnel were evacuated. Twelve people evacuated from the rig went to area hospitals for evaluation of injuries, and eleven have been released. The remaining employee is hospitalized for further evaluation.

The malfunction caused one side of the rig to become submerged in the water, resulting in the loss of the drilling equipment overboard. The company is continuing to investigate the incident and although no damage assessment to the rig has been made at this time, management believes substantially all of the loss will be covered by insurance. Pollution control specialists are on site. There is no reason to believe that any fuel or oil on board poses any pollution threat to the coast.

09/15/03