Two days after the explosion at Tehran refinery that resulted in the death of six people, an explosion at the "Fath 95" drilling rig in the Gach Sefid oil field has led to the deaths of several workers at the rig. This incident occurred on Sunday, November 7, and the Iranian Ministry of Oil confirmed the explosion at the Gach Sefid field, stating that a gas leak from a well being drilled at a depth of 2600 meters caused the explosion. Initial reports indicated two fatalities, but news agencies Mehr and Fars reported that four workers at the rig were killed. Although Gach Sefid is an oil field, it typically produces gas known as "associated gas". Fars news agency reported, based on unconfirmed news, that the Fath 95 rig has completely collapsed. This rig was launched in May of last year and, according to Iranian officials, was one of the most advanced drilling rigs in the country with a power of 2000 horsepower, capable of drilling to depths of over 6 kilometers. Videos released showing flames erupting at the site indicate that massive flames engulfed the drilling platform. The Iranian Ministry of Oil stated that firefighting operations are still ongoing. Regarding this incident, Fars news agency quoted an informed source stating that the rig was drilling at a depth of 2600 meters in the Asmari reservoir when, due to technical reasons, the drilling pipe was stopped at a depth of 80 meters, and workers and specialists were trying to resolve the issue when suddenly fluid materials erupted upwards, causing a large explosion. According to this report, the volume of fire and speed of the explosion were such that none of the workers could react in time. This informed source stated that the driller and the chief driller were among those who lost their lives in the initial moments. In recent months, several oil facilities in Iran have experienced fires, including the fire at Tehran oil refinery on Friday, which left six dead. Last year, 34 incidents occurred in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, resulting in several deaths and injuries, alongside significant financial losses. Iran intended to increase daily production at the Gach Sefid field to 17,000 barrels by drilling 12 wells.
Several Dead in Explosion at Gach Sefid Oil Field Rig
An explosion at the Fath 95 drilling rig in the Gach Sefid oil field resulted in multiple fatalities, with reports of four workers killed. The incident follows a recent explosion at a Tehran refinery, raising concerns over safety in Iran's oil industry. This highlights ongoing issues with infrastructure and safety protocols in Iran's energy sector.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An explosion occurred at the Fath 95 drilling rig in the Gach Sefid oil field, resulting in the deaths of several workers. This incident follows a recent explosion at a Tehran refinery, raising concerns about safety in Iran's oil industry.
- The explosion was caused by a gas leak while drilling at a depth of 2600 meters.
- This incident is part of a troubling trend, with multiple oil facility accidents reported in recent months.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's oil industry has faced numerous safety incidents, raising alarms about infrastructure and regulatory oversight. The country relies heavily on oil exports for its economy.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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