fire on board oilexco board dilling stopedOILEXCO INC
Oilexco Reports Incident Aboard Exploration Drilling Vessel Resolved
8/14/2007
CALGARY, ALBERTA, Aug 14, 2007 (CCNMatthews via COMTEX News Network) --
Oilexco Incorporated ("Oilexco" or " the Company") (TSX:OIL) (LSE:OIL) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Oilexco North Sea Limited, today reported that the semi-submersible rig Ocean Guardian, which is under contract to the Company from Diamond Offshore Drilling UK Limited, experienced a fire in its engine room at 18:20 U.K. time today while operating in the UK North Sea. The fire was completely extinguished by the vessel's fire suppression system a short time later. All personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported. As part of standard safety procedures non-essential personnel were evacuated from the vessel to nearby platforms and arrangements are being made for their return to the Ocean Guardian.
The fire was completely contained within the engine room. The well remained under control throughout the incident and is secure. There is no environmental damage reported from the fire. Oilexco will work in conjunction with Diamond Offshore Drilling and the authorities to investigate the incident, and to ensure a safe environment onboard the vessel before drilling resumes.
The Ocean Guardian rig is one of two drilling vessels under long term contract to Oilexco and was conducting appraisal drilling on its 100% owned Shelley oil accumulation on Blocks 22/2b and 22/3a. This incident did not impact the Company's production from its Brenda/Nicol Fields.