Four
separate probes launched into offshore gas
line explosion
By Radhica Sookraj
Trinidad Guardian
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
05 27 07
Trinmar
workers downed tools for several hours yesterday
even as four separate investigations
were launched into Monday’s explosion at
Platform 21.
The
platform located at Trinmar’s east field
was evacuated as the investigating teams from the
Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Petrotrin/Trinmar,
Point Fortin Police and the Occupational Safety
and Health (OSH) Committee began a probe.
Operations
at surrounding platforms—including
the Cluster Six platform, Platform 19, Generator
Platform No one, Platform 17 and the F238 platform—were
affected, but after midday workers returned to
their duties.
However,
Trinmar’s branch president Ernesto
Kesar said the entire East Field was operating
under a “go slow.” He said an emergency
meeting was held yesterday morning with Trinmar’s
general manager Allan Russel and operations manager
Caesar Mitchell.
Kesar said workers had taken a united stance to
refrain from working in the offshore platforms
until an emergency response vessel was despatched
to the East Field.
“We were given the assurance that this will
be done and in light of this workers returned to
their duties,” Kesar said.
He added that the Trinmar flags were flying at
half mast. Kesar said he did not want to jeopardise
the ongoing investigations. However, he said the
Oilfield Workers Trade Union had been calling for
better safety standards.
He said the issue of infrastructure at the platforms
had been raised with the company on several occasions.
“We have leaking corroded lines, cockroach
infestation, no proper facilities,” Kesar
said.
He said a series of meetings were expected to
be held over the next few days regarding safety
concerns.
Meanwhile,
Petrotrin’s Manager of Corporate
Communications Arnold Corneal said the Employment
Assistance Programme had been providing counselling
to the families of the deceased and the injured
as well as other employees who were on location.
He said members of the top management team at Trinmar
as well as the management of Trinjet Services had
been in dialogue with all the affected families.
FLASHBACK
Around 11 am on Monday, a pressurised gas line
exploded on a Trinmar offshore platform, killing
Ricardo Felix, 39, of Bermudez Trace, Siparia.
His co-workers, Richard Phillip, 23, of Vance River
in Guapo, and Kirk Peters, 34, of Salazar Trace,
Point Fortin, were injured.
Trinidad
Guardian
Wednesday 23rd May, 2007
Copyright
©2007 Trinidad Guardian. All Rights Reserved.
