An offshore Pemex pipeline caught fire Friday in the Ku Maloob Zaap oil development region, with footage filmed at the scene showing flames shooting from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Pemex after issued a statement say the fire was contained around 10:45 a.m. local time, naming a gas leak in an underwater pipeline as the reason behind the incident.
In addition, the pipeline interconnection valves were closed, extinguishing the fire and the release of gas, ending the contingency around 10:45 am, and restoring normal operating conditions. No injuries or evacuees are reported ”, indicated the company.
According to Reuters Citing an incident report shared by a source, the Pemex crew used nitrogen to control the fire in a pipeline that is used to transport oil and gas, and a ship arrived later to close a valve in the pipeline.
“The turbomachine at the Ku Maloob Zaap active production facility was affected by a thunderstorm and heavy rain,” the incident report said.
What has already been dubbed by some netizens as a “portal to hell” can be seen in several videos that show flames in the sea as several fireboats struggle to put it out.
Pemex is the Mexican state oil company, and the Ku Maloob Zaap development is reportedly one of its most productive regions, accounting for more than 40% of its 1.68 million barrels of daily crude extraction, as Reuters noted.