On Monday, Mexican state oil company Pemex reported a fire on an unmanned satellite platform located approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Ciudad del Carmen in the Bay of Campeche. This incident is part of a troubling trend of operational mishaps at Pemex’s offshore facilities. The emergency was declared around 11:15 AM at the Abkatun-H platform, which is part of the larger Abkatun oilfield complex. In response, safety protocols were initiated, and vessels were sent to combat the blaze.
As of Tuesday, Pemex has not provided additional information regarding the cause or current status of the fire. The Abkatun field, discovered in the late 1970s to early 1980s, is one of six major oil finds in Campeche Sound, a vital area for Mexico’s offshore oil production. Despite still producing significant output—3.3 million barrels projected for 2024—the aging infrastructure poses ongoing challenges.
Pemex has faced numerous incidents this year, particularly in its onshore operations. Notable events include a fire at the Olmeca refinery complex that resulted in five fatalities in March, and a separate accident in Salina Cruz that injured six workers in May. Additionally, a runaway well fire in Veracruz persisted for four months, causing pollution in multiple towns. In April, Pemex acknowledged a substantial oil spill from a pipeline at the Abkatun field, which began in February, adversely affecting local beaches and fishing livelihoods. Several officials were dismissed for their failure to promptly report the leak.
