One Worker Missing After Fire Incident On Chevron’s Offshore Platform

One person is missing after a fire broke out on May 20 at Chevron’s Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) offshore platform in Angola, which also left 17 people injured.

According to Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), the incident occurred at around 3:00 a.m. local time on the basement deck of the deepwater facility, located in Block 14 approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) off the coast of Cabinda. The BBLT platform is operated by Chevron’s subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC).

The injured personnel were airlifted by helicopter to the mainland for medical treatment. Emergency protocols were activated immediately after the fire, and all necessary authorities were notified.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing to locate the missing individual. Chevron confirmed the missing status through a spokesperson on May 21, stating that the company is working closely with relevant government agencies to assist in the search efforts.

CABGOC and its contracting partners are also providing support to the injured individuals and their families.

At the time of the incident, the BBLT platform was undergoing annual maintenance as part of a scheduled shutdown. The platform had ceased production operations earlier, on May 1, 2025.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Chevron’s BBLT platform is a key facility in its Angolan operations. It is a deepwater drilling and production structure supported by a compliant piled tower in 1,281 feet of water. The platform has a production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day and includes living accommodations for 157 personnel.

References: thesudantimes, worldoil

Source: Maritime Shipping News