PEMEX (Petroleos Mexicanos) slapped for handling of 1 Ixtoc blowout

Journal Article · Mon Dec 17 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5502768

Mahood, S; Milgram, J; Kach, D

According to S. Mahood of Sedco Inc. at a US Senate hearing, no Sedco personnel aboard the 1 Ixtoc drilling vessel (a Sedco 135 semisubmerisble leased to Performaciones Marine del Golfo S.A. (Permargo), which held two long-term Petroleos Mexicanos offshore drilling contracts) participated in the decision making process or had access to the geological data used by Pemex in the drilling of the well. Mahood gave a detailed description of the events leading to the blowout. In a less optimistic evaluation of oil containment procedures than has earlier been provided by Petroleos Mexicanos, J. Milgram (Mass. Inst. Technol.) stated that the sombrero collects only about 10% of the escaping oil, of which about half is rejected by the separation system, and that the oil flow was about 50,000 bbl/day as of 10/20/79. According to D. Kach (US Geol. Surv.), Pemex can be criticized for the training and actions of the crew and for the inadequate amount of mud available on the drilling vessel.

• OSTI ID: 5502768
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 77:51; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
BLOWOUTS
CONTAINMENT
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS
HEARINGS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
OIL WELLS
PERSONNEL
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SURVEYS
TRAINING
WELLS