The Prospector 5 rig belonging to Borr Drilling sank at 8:37 PM local time on Saturday, October 24, off the coast of Gabon. The incident occurred during jacking operations prior to a scheduled drilling campaign, and of the 115 people present on the rig, 110 have been safely accounted for.
Details of the Incident and Search Efforts
According to Borr Drilling, initial information indicates that the incident was due to a "punch-through" during preload operations, which resulted in the loss of stability of the rig and its sinking. Gabonese authorities have stated that the search for the five missing workers, which includes three Gabonese citizens and one foreign worker, is ongoing. An Indian worker also lost his life in the incident.
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The Gabonese government has mobilized naval forces and helicopters to search for the missing individuals, and the Republic of Congo has also dispatched its maritime resources to the operation. Additionally, officials plan to use remotely operated underwater vehicles to inspect the sunken rig.
Economic and Production Implications
BW Energy has also announced that production at the MaBoMo facilities has been suspended due to this incident. These facilities were operating as part of Phase 2 of the development of the Hibiscus and Hibiscus South fields. Borr Drilling secured the drilling contract in April this year, which included a campaign of at least 320 days with options for an additional 220 days. This development was expected to increase production to 20,000 barrels per day at peak, with first oil from the new wells targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
Production at MaBoMo has been halted under standard procedures. BW Energy emphasized that the facilities and associated equipment were undamaged and no unintended discharge of hazardous materials has been reported. Gabonese authorities have stated that no pollution has been observed in the surrounding waters, but environmental monitoring near the Mayumba National Park continues. A technical investigation has also been initiated to clarify the details of the rig's sinking.
BW Energy holds a 73.5% stake in the Dussafu field, with other shareholders including Panoro Energy with 17.5% and Gabon Oil Company with 9%.
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