Malaysian offshore oil rig sinks, all 101 crew save after drilling incident

Offshore oil platform capsizes and sinks with 101 crew on board in Kalimantan, South Malaysia Sea

Malaysian offshore oil and gas platform NAGA-7 sinks after a drilling incident while operating for the ConocoPhillips, on May 4, in the offshore waters of Sarawak, north of Kalimantan with several crew members. The company confirms that the offshore drilling rig is submerged following the incident during installation at a wellsite. The information passed on is that one of the legs of the three-legged offshore platform has broken offshore, in the mud below. As a result, the platform listed, then sank. All 101 staff on board were able to evacuate to 3 lifeboats and are safe.

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Offshore oil platform NAGA-7 – ConocoPhillips confirmed that the platform was submerged

Naga-7 is a Gusto MSC CJ46-X100-D drilling rig capable of drilling in water depths of up to 375 feet. Built on Mazou Island, China by China Merchants Industry, the platform was delivered in 2015.

Velesto Energy, formerly known as UMW Oil & Gas, is a Malaysia-based multinational drilling contractor for the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. The company, based in Kuala Lumpur, operates a fleet of seven jackup drilling rigs.

"An investigation team has been assembled by the Sarawak Region Marine Department to find out the cause of the incident," the department said in a statement on Wednesday (May 5).

Malaysian offshore platform crew safe

“A total of 85 crew arrived safely at Serimas Pier (in Miri) at 22pm on Tuesday (May 4), and are in mandatory 14-day quarantine.”

"The remaining 16 crew members arrived at the pier at 10:35 am this morning, and were registered to undergo quarantine in Miri," the department said.

He also stated that a notice to sailors had been issued regarding the incident, while the Sarawak region marine department was in the process of placing a virtual buoy if necessary to ensure the maritime community does not use the route for the time being.