A tug boat and two barges apparently struck a natural gas pipeline in Louisiana Thursday, killing two people and critically injuring at least two others. Three other people were confirmed missing by state police. The accident occurred near Gulfport Energy Corp.’s West Cote Blanche Bay production facility, located near Baldwin, LA.

The Louisiana State Police and U.S. Coast Guard officials reported a fire at the Gulfport facility, but they said late Thursday no traffic in the region had been affected. It was unclear how much gas the pipeline was carrying, or how the pipeline was exposed so that ships could damage it.

Oklahoma City-based Gulfport said in a statement a fire was reported north of its facilities in West Cote involving two contracted vessels that were performing work on behalf of the company. No damage was reported to the West Cote facilities, but as a precaution, Gulfport temporarily shut in all production from the field. As of June 30, Gulfport was producing 192 MMcf/d from its West Cote field.

“Our first priority is the safety of our employees and contractors,” said Gulfport CEO Jim Palm in a statement. “At this point, all Gulfport employees have been accounted for. We are continuing to try to gather information about our contractors at the scene. We are deeply concerned for all those involved.”

Gulfport’s West Cote field lies about five miles off the coast of Louisiana, primarily in St. Mary Parish, in a shallow bay, with water depths averaging eight to 10 feet. The field lies over one of the largest salt dome structures on the Gulf Coast, according to Gulfport. There have been 871 wells drilled in West Cote, and of these, 48 were producing, 303 were shut-in, and five had been converted to salt water disposal wells.

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