VIETNAM – Fire Breaks Out During Decommissioning of Vietnam’s Offshore Song Doc Oil Rig

Located approximately 205 kilometers south of Ca Mau Cape, the Song Doc oil field was discovered in 2006 and once produced up to 28,000 barrels of oil per day. Initially developed by Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) in partnership with two other investors, the project faced mounting operational costs and steadily declining output. By November 2013, PVEP assumed full control after the other partners withdrew, continuing to extract remaining reserves. Despite these efforts, the field’s output eventually dropped below viable economic levels. Operations officially ceased at the end of 2023, and decommissioning began shortly thereafter, including well plugging and rig dismantling.

On Wednesday afternoon, a fire erupted on the Song Doc offshore platform during cleaning and dismantling procedures. Petrovietnam Domestic Exploration Production Operating Co. Ltd (PVEP POC) stated that the fire broke out while subcontractors were working on the now-inactive rig.

The blaze was swiftly brought under control within 30 minutes, and PVEP POC confirmed that it had no impact on the surrounding environment or ongoing oil and gas activities. At the time of the incident, production had already ceased in February 2024, and the platform was no longer in active use.

Authorities, in collaboration with PVEP POC and relevant stakeholders, have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

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