Five still missing as Borr jackup sinks off Gabon
Search teams locate three bodies as investigation into the Prospector 5 sinking continues
A search and rescue operation is underway off the coast of Gabon after the Borr Drilling jackup rig Prospector 5 sank on Saturday, October 24, leaving five workers missing. The incident occurred at approximately 20:37 local time while the rig was preparing for a drilling campaign at the Dussafu Marin licence, operated by BW Energy.
Preliminary reports from Borr Drilling indicate the rig lost stability and sank following a punch-through during preload operations. Of the 115 personnel on board, 110 were safely accounted for and evacuated. Gabonese authorities, along with naval support from neighbouring Republic of Congo, have deployed vessels and helicopters to locate the missing workers.
An underwater inspection of the sunken rig is planned using remotely operated vehicles. Meanwhile, environmental monitoring near Mayumba National Park has detected no pollution, and BW Energy confirmed the adjacent MaBoMo production facility remained undamaged with no hazardous discharges.
Cause and immediate response: Borr
The sinking forced the suspension of production at the MaBoMo facility as a precautionary measure. The Prospector 5, built in 2014, was under contract to drill four production wells for BW Energy’s MaBoMo Phase 2 programme, which aimed to add up to 20,000 barrels per day of peak production by early 2027.
Borr Drilling’s CEO, Bruno Morand, stated the company’s priority was supporting search efforts and the welfare of those affected. A technical investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident. BW Energy holds a 73.5% stake in the Dussafu licence, with partners Panoro Energy (17.5%) and Gabon Oil Company (9%).
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