By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 27 -- Egypt's Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy has ordered the destruction of the fire ravaged Temsah natural gas production platform in the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt, according to French news service Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The platform has been severely damaged by flames since an explosion and fire sank an adjacent drilling rig Aug. 10 before spreading to the platform (OGJ Online, Aug. 11 and 12, 2004). Firefighters have been working to snuff the flames by stemming gas flow from the field, whichis one of Egypt's largest gas deposits.
A special committee of experts will supervise the 5,700 ton platform's demolition, AFP reported, after which the site will be cleared and new wells drilled nearby.
The Temsah platform normally produces 150-180 MMcfd of gas, but prior to the fire it had been shut for maintenance from the beginning of August.
Temsah field, 60 km from Port Said at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, is operated by Petrobel and owned by ENI SPA, BP PLC, and Egypt's General Petroleum Corp.
