Haven't seen this posted, yet....
Hercules Jack-Up Rig Catches Fire Following Loss of Well Control
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has confirmed this morning that the Hercules 265 jack-up rig has caught fire following a loss of well control on board the rig yesterday.
According to a BSEE statement, the natural gas leaking from the well ignited at 10:50 p.m. CDT July 23, 2013. No one was on board at the time of the ignition.
This likely leaves very few options now to regain control of the fire considering that the primary means of controlling the flow of the fuel source, which is the blowout preventer (BOP), has likely failed.
Unlike the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout, the BOP on the Hercules rig is above the water and surrounded by an uncontrolled fire. Access to it will no doubt be impossible.
I don't have a lot to add, as I'm no sort of expert on anything having to do with drilling rigs. But there is a fire continuing to spew and, apparently, they can't access the equipment that would be used to shut it off, because that's above water, in the fire.
And, of course, the company involved is not sharing much. See below.
In a statement by BSEE, Walter Oil & Gas has begun preparations to drill a relief well to quell the blaze. No photos or video have yet been made public by BSEE.
If I hear more, I will update. (please add tags, as I just threw a few in to get this up.)