Efforts continue on Thunder Horse
Offshore staff
In a joint-agency response, the Department of Homeland Security's US Coast Guard and Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service are coordinating with BP and other government agencies on ongoing operations to right the listingThunder Horse semisubmersible platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
Response and recovery efforts for the platform will continue as contract crews and BP employees work to remove water from the platform.
According to US Coast Guard Capt. Terry Gilbreath, federal on-scene coordinator for this operation, the Coast Guard is working closely with BP and its partners to maintain the platform's stability and recovery.
Representatives from MSO Morgan City are monitoring the operation, Gilbreath says. BP has re-boarded the platform and has established power on the facility. Crews are now focusing their efforts on pumping operations to right the vessel. The platform continues to list at approximately 20°.
According to MMS Director Johnnie Burton, "MMS inspectors have been on the scene of the incident every day. We are coordinating with both the Coast Guard federal on-scene coordinator and the BP command center in Houston. MMS structural engineers have been involved as well."
MMS has formed an internal multi-person team to coordinate all aspects of the incident that are of concern to MMS. The multi-person team will deal with operational matters, structural engineering and stability, and oil-spill response planning. Personnel from the US Coast Guard marine safety office in Morgan City remain on scene overseeing the safety of personnel involved in the operation. Additional personnel in Morgan City and Houston are working to review and approve recovery and safety plans for the effort.
The Coast Guard cutterPelican, an 87-ft patrol boat from Abbeville, Louisiana, is on the cene enforcing a safety zone and will provide search and rescue response in the event of an emergency.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The BP-operated Thunder Horse field is 150 mi southeast of New Orleans, in Mississippi Canyon block 778.
04/14/05