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USCG Case History

On June 3, 1979, the 2 mile deep exploratory well, IXTOC I, blew out in the
Bahia de Campeche, 600 miles south of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. The IXTOC I
was being drilled by the SEDCO 135, a semi-submersible platform on lease to
Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX).  A loss of drilling mud circulation caused the
blowout to occur.  The oil and gas blowing out of the well ignited, causing the
platform to catch fire.  The burning platform collapsed into the wellhead area
hindering any immediate attempts to control the blowout.

PEMEX hired blowout control experts and other spill control experts including
Red Adair, Martech International of Houston, and the Mexican diving company,
Daivaz.  The Martech response included 50 personnel on site, the remotely
operated vehicle TREC, and the submersible Pioneer I.  The TREC attempted to
find a safe approach to the Blowout Preventer (BOP). The approach was
complicated by poor visibility and debris on the seafloor including derrick
wreckage and 3000 meters of drilling pipe.  Divers were eventually able to reach
and activate the BOP, but the pressure of the oil and gas caused the valves to
begin rupturing.  The BOP was reopened to prevent destroying it.  Two relief
wells were drilled to relieve pressure from the well to allow response personnel
to cap it.  Norwegian experts were contracted to bring in skimming equipment and
containment booms, and to begin cleanup of the spilled oil.  The IXTOC I well
continued to spill oil at a rate of 10,000 - 30,000 barrels per day until it was
finally capped on March 23, 1980.