A gas well blowout that ignited last Sunday on NewfieldExploration’s Ship Shoal Block 354 continued to burn yesterday,company officials said. The fire is not expected to be extinguisheduntil later this week.

“The A-2 well has not been capped as of yet,” said StephenCampbell, a Newfield spokesman. “Boots and Coots (a fire fightingcompany) is on the scene, and preparations are underway to get themon the platform. They probably won’t be able to get onto theplatform until Thursday or Friday. That’s plan ‘A’. Additionally,preparations are being made to drill a relief well. That’s plan’B.'”

The well initially blew out last Thursday, Newfield said, thenre-ignited Sunday. The initial blow-out occurred during a workoveroperation on the well. The crew performing the workover wasunharmed and so far there have been no injuries. Newfield is theoperator of the platform and owns the majority interest with 40%.

Newfield is coordinating its well control efforts with theMinerals Management Service and Coast Guard Marine Safety Office(MSO) Morgan City, LA and other regulatory authorities. MSO MorganCity personnel are conducting overflights to assess the situationand Coast Guard Pollution Investigators are enroute to the NewfieldExploration Command Post in Houston.

At present, a light, silvery sheen extends from the platform andposes no threat to the U.S. shoreline. Newfield and the MSO MorganCity believe the sheen is non-dispersible and non-recoverable. Thecondensate causing the sheen has an API gravity of 46 degrees andis expected to evaporate with no significant pollution orenvironmental impact. However, the company has two skimming boatsand booms on location should they be needed.

Campbell said the monetary loss the blowout caused has yet to bedetermined. Newfield said insurance will cover the damage. The wellwas expected to produce 6 MMcf/d for the rest of 1999 and 3 Bcfe in2000. The company said the loss of production will not impact itsproduction target of 111 Bcf for 1999, as other wells in Newfield’sportfolio have exceeded expectations.

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