Fire on Apache platform in Gulf of Mexico kills 1 worker, sends 2 others to hospital

Fire on Apache platform kills worker

HOUSTON — Oil and gas company Apache Corp. said a fire erupted early Wednesday on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, killing one worker and sending two others to the hospital.

The company said in a statement that the fire was aboard its East Cameron 2 processing platform, about 2 miles off the coast of Louisiana’s Cameron Parish. The fire, which has since been put out, occurred about 1:30 a.m. CST, according to an Apache spokesman.

Three workers on the platform, employees for Island Operating, were taken to a hospital, where one of them died. The other two workers are being evaluated. The man who died was identified by the company as Frank Richard, 34, of Mowata, La.

Island Operating provides contract operating services for Apache.

Apache, based in Houston, has shut in the wells that flow to the processing facilities on the platform where the fire occurred.

Apache said it believes the environmental impact from the fire to be minimal. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

Production processed at the platform totals roughly 850 barrels of oil and 7.7 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Apache is an exploration and production company with operations in the U.S., Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina.