No Environmental Damage? Oil Giant Claims Gulf of Mexico's Ravaging Fire Had No Serious Impact

Some days after footage of a great ocean surface blaze close to a Pemex oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico became popular, national oil company in Mexico has announced that environmental damage was prevented because of its workers' immediate action.

(Photo : Getty Images)

Pemex 

The blaze that took place on the 2nd of July, gotten on video obviously by a helicopter closeby, revealed bright orange flames emanating out of the water as the fire burned a distance not too far from the oil platform.

Previously, the oil giant - Pemex, has said it took over five hours to completely stop the fire. A fire that occurred on the ocean surface west of Yucatan peninsula in Mexico early Friday has been put off, Pemex said. The cause of the fire was blamed on a gas leak from an underwater pipeline for triggering the blaze that was gotten in the viral videos.

Bright orange flames emanating out of water looking like molten lava was named an "eye of fire" on social media because of the circular shape of the blaze, as it burned a not to far from a Pemex oil platform.

Also Read: The North Sea Green Energy Can Possibly Overtake Oil and Gas by 2030

The Gas Leak  

As per Pemex, it took over five hours to fully stop the fire. Earlier, four sources told Reuters the fire started in an underwater pipeline that links to the most crucial platform in the company - a platform at Pemex's flagship Ku Maloob Zaap oil development.

Just up from the southern rim of the Gulf of Mexico, that is where Ku Maloob Zaap is situated.

No injuries were reported, Pemex said and after the gas leak ignited about 5:15 a.m. local time it didn't have any effect on production from the project . By 10:30 a.m, It was completely put off.

In a statement on Monday the company said no oil spill was recorded and the quick action taken to check the surface fire led to the avoidance of environmental damage. The blaze was triggered by an electric storm that flamed up a leak of gas from a busted underwater pipeline, the statement added.

(Photo : Getty Images)

The Fire Ignites a Storm of Criticism  

 Over the weekend, the fire ignited a storm of criticism, both climate activist Greta Thunberg and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's social media posts, among many others.

The fire occurred at the top creating offshore oilfield Pemex operated, which has a lot of track record of remarkable industrial accidents at its facilities.

A board member with Mexico's environmental law center CEMDA, Gusatvo Alanis, told Reuters he believes it is too early to give a conclusion that the fire led to no environmental damage.

As per a statement issued earlier Monday and approved by over two dozen environmental groups, with Greenpeace inclusive and also CEMDA, Pemex should always prepare a "comprehensive study of the (environmental) impact brought about by the fire" and also a plan to repair the damage.

Related Article: Oil Giant BP: World Carbon Emissions Stopped Growing Last Year

For more news, updates about fire outbreaks and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!