MALAYSIA – Vestigo Contains Fire at West Lutong Offshore Platform After Lightning Strike
Vestigo Petroleum has brought a fire under control at its West Lutong Vent A (WLV-A) offshore facility near Miri, Sarawak, following a lightning strike on Sunday afternoon. The company confirmed there were no injuries or personnel affected, adding that the incident posed no immediate threat to nearby communities or the environment.
The fire occurred at approximately 2:00 pm local time on 28 June. According to Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department, lightning struck a vent stack at the offshore installation, causing a brief gas line explosion. As part of the emergency response, operators closed a shut-off valve to isolate the affected system and minimise further risk.
Vestigo said the fire was successfully contained and that investigations into its cause are underway. The company is working closely with the relevant authorities while inspections of the facility continue to assess the impact of the incident.
In a statement, Vestigo reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high safety standards, protecting the environment and ensuring the integrity of its offshore operations. The company said it would continue to cooperate with authorities throughout the investigation and subsequent technical assessments.
Vestigo Petroleum was established in 2013 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Petronas Carigali to develop and produce hydrocarbons from small, marginal and mature oil and gas fields in Malaysia and selected international markets. Petronas Carigali is the upstream operating arm of PETRONAS, Malaysia’s national energy company with businesses spanning upstream and downstream oil and gas, petrochemicals and cleaner energy solutions.
The West Lutong field, discovered in 1966, is the oldest offshore producing field in the Baram Delta region. Located approximately 12 to 20 kilometres offshore from Miri, the field remains an established part of Malaysia’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure.
Photo credit: X. All rights reserved.