Gunashli Platform No.10 fire

On 4 December 2015, a deadly fire broke out in the northern part of platform No. 10 at the western section of the Gunashli oilfield operated by SOCAR.[2][3] The fire started, according to SOCAR, when a high-pressure subsea gas pipeline was damaged in a heavy storm.[2][4][5] As a result of the fire, the platform, which had been in service since 1984, partially collapsed.[6][7][8] Fire spread to several oil and gas wells.[9][7][8] Production at all 28 wells (24 oil wells and 4 gas wells)[7] connected to the platform was suspended, pipelines connecting the platform to the shore were closed, and electricity to the platform was cut off.[8][6] Before the accident, the platform produced 920 tonnes of oil and 1.08 million cubic metres (38 million cubic feet) of gas per day.[7][10] About 60% of the oil produced by SOCAR was transported through this platform.[6]

Gunashli Platform No. 10 fire
Date4 December 2015 (2015-12-04)
Time17:40 local time
LocationAzerbaijani section of Caspian Sea
CauseDamaged gas riser due to heavy storm
Deaths12
Non-fatal injuries31[1]
Missing18 (as of December 2017)

At the time of the accident, 63 workers were on the platform.[8] According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, 12 workers are confirmed killed, 18 are still missing (as of December 2017), 33 were rescued; and nine were hospitalized.[11][12] According to SOCAR, people went missing when a life boat with 34 people on board fell from the platform into the sea and was damaged after hitting piles of the platform.[5][8] On 5 December, the Prosecutor General's Office launched a criminal investigation into the possible violation of fire safety rules.[5][13] President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order declaring 6 December 2015 a day of mourning for those who died in the incident.[14]

References
  1. "Пострадавшие в результате аварии на «Гюнешли» 22 нефтяника привлечены к повторному обследованию". Archived from the original on 2015-12-12. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  2. "Fire on Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field continues". Cihan News Agency. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. "Azerbaijani platform head discloses incident details". Trend News Agency. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. Aida, Sultanova (5 December 2015). "Azerbaijan: 1 dead, 30 missing, 33 saved after oil rig fire". Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. Guliyev, Emil (6 December 2015). "Azerbaijan mourns 'many deaths' after oil rig fire". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  6. Bagirova, Nailia (5 December 2015). "One worker killed, 30 missing after Azeri oil rig fire: government". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  7. Aida, Sultanova (6 December 2015). "Azerbaijan: 29 still missing from burning oil platform". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  8. Tsurkov, Maksim (6 December 2015). "SOCAR focused on searches, fire-fighting on faulty offshore platform". Trend News Agency. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  9. "Firefighting continues at Azerbaijan's Guneshli fieldd". Trend News Agency. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  10. Bagirova, Nailia (6 December 2015). "Azerbaijan says 29 missing after oil platform fire feared dead". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  11. "Azerbaijan still searching for missing oilmen; aircraft, ships engaged". Trend News Agency. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  12. "22 injured in SOCAR platform accident sent home". Trend News Agency. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  13. "Criminal case initiated over accident at Azerbaijan's Guneshli field". Trend News Agency. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  14. "December 6 announced a mourning day in Azerbaijan". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-11.

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