Oil platform off Vietnam catches fire during decommissioning

The Song Doc platform off the coast of southwest Vietnam caught fire during decommissioning operations on Wednesday afternoon.

The incident on the Petrovietnam-operated platform happened while a subcontractor was cleaning and dismantling the platform.

According to reports, the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes and did not impact the surrounding environment or other oil and gas operations at the surrounding oil projects, which continued to work normally.

The Song Doc field had been depleted and ceased operations in February 2024, with no production activities being conducted at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The small-scale oil field, located about 205 km south of Ca Mau Cape, was discovered in 2006 and had a peak output of around 28,000 barrels per day. The license for the block was initially awarded to Talisman, Petronas Carigali, and PetroVietnam, which formed the Truong Son Joint Operating Company to operate the block.

The contract for the well plug and abandonment services, as well as the removal of the platform, was awarded to Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation and Petrovietnam Drilling.