NTG report: Owner of oil rig says equipment misuse caused blast

The owner of the oil rig that exploded last week off the Gulf of Mexico said that workers’ equipment misuse caused the accident, which resulted in one dead, another missing and four others left with burns, all of them Filipino. A report on GMA News TV’s News To Go on Tuesday aired a clip from Black Elk Energy, which owns the oil rig, saying the workers committed an error in using the equipment which resulted in the explosion and fire. “The line that was cut was supposed to be cut with a cold cutting device, a non-sparking device. Apparently the construction crew used a cutting torch that ignited vapors in the line, which then ignited the tanks,” said Black Elk Energy CEO John Hoffman. However, the workers' manning agency said that it dispatches well-trained personnel abroad. “We have various training facilities dito that conduct such training and we make sure na papasa [sa trade test] every personnel na ipapadala natin,” DNR Offshore and Crewing Services corporate communications chief Jesse Collera said. “The explosion and fire occurred when workers were welding a pipe on the deck of West Delta Block 32 platform, which sits in 56 feet of water about 17 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.” The Philippine Embassy in Washington said three of the four burn victims were still in guarded condition in hospital. Meanwhile, the body of Elroy Corporal was recovered last Saturday, while Jerome Malagapo remains missing. It was reported that Black Elk Energy will continue the search for him. The Department of Labor and Employment also announced that the victims will get full social benefits from the government. —  Gian C. Geronimo/BM, GMA News