Fire Erupts On Chevron’s Angola Oil Platform, 17 Injured

A fire broke out on early Tuesday morning, May 20, on Chevron’s Benguela-Belize-Lobito-Tomboco (BBLT) oil platform, located offshore Angola, injuring 17 people, including four who are in serious condition.

The incident occurred at around 3:10 am on the cellar (basement) deck of the BBLT facility, which is positioned in Block 14, approximately 60 miles (97 kilometres) off the coast of Cabinda.

At the time, the platform was in the middle of its scheduled annual maintenance and had been completely shut down since May 1, 2025.

Chevron confirmed that the fire was brought under control quickly by company personnel. Its local subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC), activated emergency response protocols immediately and ensured that all personnel were accounted for.

The platform has a total accommodation capacity of 157 people.

All 17 injured workers have been transferred onshore for medical care. Among them, four individuals sustained serious injuries and are being given intensive treatment.

An investigation is underway to identify what caused the fire. Angola’s upstream regulator, the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), is working alongside Chevron and CABGOC to determine the exact cause.

ANPG released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the well-being of the affected individuals and promised transparent updates for all concerned stakeholders.

In a joint statement, Chevron and the Angolan government acknowledged the incident and confirmed the number of injuries. They said that the safety of all personnel remains their highest priority and that a thorough follow-up will be conducted for those injured in the fire.

The Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, ANPG, and Chevron are focused on investigating the cause of the fire, ensuring safety measures, and providing medical support to the injured.

The BBLT platform is installed in a water depth of 396 meters and uses a bottom-fixed compliant tower structure. This rare design includes a 1,200-foot flexible platform jacket that is partially buoyant, allowing it to sway with wave motion for enhanced stability.

Other similar platforms include Chevron’s Petronius and Exxon’s Lena.

The BBLT facility has a maximum production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. However, since production was already halted due to maintenance before the fire occurred, the impact on the timeline for resuming operations remains uncertain.

Authorities have not yet commented on the extent of damage to the facility or when production may resume.

References: energynews, upstreamonline