The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement released the results of its investigation of the Oct. 28, 2020 incident when the Transocean Drillship Deepwater Asgard sustained major damage to various operational components while evacuating from an area impacted by Hurricane Zeta.
On Oct. 28, 2020, an incident took place at the Transocean Deepwater Asgard, that was serving under an agreement for the Beacon Offshore Energy, LLC (BOE) in 5,594 feet of water. The Asgard was taken off location by severe weather conditions as a result of an incoming hurricane. After the well was secured and the riser was displaced with seawater, the Emergency Disconnect System (EDS) was successfully utilized. During the process the riser and Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) took considerable damage.
"Inaccurate weather forecast, the actual weather was worse than what was forecasted at the drillship's location," a report on the incident stated. "The original forecast said the storm would pass to the east of the Asgard’s location and the storm would be a category 1 hurricane. Category 1 hurricane force winds range from 74 to 95 mph. The Asgard experienced strong category 1 to category 2 hurricane force winds and extremely rough sea states, with a peak wind gust equal to a category 4 hurricane.”
Following a complete investigation and analysis of the incident, BSEE made a number of recommendations to decrease the probability of similar incidents in the future and published a BSEE Safety Alert March 8, 2021, which was given to offshore operators. If such an incident occurs again, BOE will recommend to its rig contractor that they should secure the well, displace the riser to seawater, disconnect from the well and pull a certain length of riser from the water column, and move to a safer location.
