HOUSTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Hercules Offshore Inc. said it spent more than $3 million in its response to a drilling rig crippled by a summer gas explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
The company said in a Thursday statement "salvage cost incurred on the Hercules 265 [was] approximately $3.2 million."
Rig 265 was damaged when a natural gas cloud ignited in July after Walter Oil & Gas Corp. reported it lost control of a well in the Gulf of Mexico while preparing it for production.
The well was sealed naturally by sediment and debris in a process known as bridging. More than 40 crewmembers on the rig were evacuated without incident. No major environmental damage was associated with the July release.
The company said its revenue from offshore operations in the United States in the third quarter increased 51 percent to $139 million, primarily because it was charging more for companies to lease its rigs.
Hercules Offshore President John Rynd said in a statement the third quarter report reflects "positive momentum" in the Gulf of Mexico.
