An explosion occurred Feb. 11 on an FPSO operated by BW Offshore Brazil and chartered by Brazil’s Petrobras. On Feb. 12, the company said that five of the 74 people onboard the Cidade de Sao Mateus died, and that four are still missing.

Remaining crew members are accounted for and receiving medical care if needed, Petrobras added, noting that two are in critical condition and that all were taken off the vessel for safety reasons. A support team established by BW Offshore is assisting personnel, and the next of kin of the five deceased were notified, the company said.

Following the explosion, search and rescue operations went through the night, the company said.

The unit’s production was stopped and it was shut down. It had been operating since 2009 on the Camarupim and Camarupim Norte fields’ postsalt areas in the Espirito Santo Basin’s littoral zone, about 120 km from Brazil’s coast.The platform produced about 2.2 cu. m/d of natural gas. This is about 3% of Petrobras’ natural gas production in Brazil, the company said.

Camarupim is wholly operated by Petrobras, while Camarupim Norte is a partnership between Petrobras, with 75% working interest, and Ouro Preto Energia, with 25% working interest.

The Brazilian Navy and the country’s National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency were notified of the incident, the company said.

"This is a tragic day, and our primary focus now is on the crew and their families. We cannot rest until the last four of our men are found. We express our gratitude to Petrobras and the Brazillian authorities for the tireless efforts in this time and wish to thank our peers and partners for their support," said Carl Arnet, BW Offshore’s CEO.

Offshore