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Gas rig 'sustained extensive damage' in fire

HOUSTON, July 25 (UPI) -- The Hercules 265 jackup drilling rig in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico "sustained extensive damage" in a fire that erupted aboard the rig, Hercules Offshore said.

The fire started Tuesday evening as workers preparing the drill rig for production hit an unexpected pocket of gas, CNN reported.

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About 44 workers were evacuated from the rig. No injuries were reported.

"Based on a visual flyover inspection conducted by Hercules Offshore, the jackup rig is still standing, however it appears to have sustained extensive damage to the derrick package as a result of the continuing fire that ignited yesterday evening," Houston-based Hercules Offshore, which owns the rig, said in a release.

Hercules Offshore said it may drill a relief well to "regain control of the natural gas well," the release said.

"In the event that a relief well is necessary, the company is preparing to promptly mobilize the Hercules 200, a 200 [foot] mat-supported cantilevered unit to execute drilling of the relief well," the release said.

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