Qatari oil drilling rig operated by Maersk has accident in Gulf, months of repairs needed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Qatari company says one of its oil drilling rigs will need several months of repairs and maintenance after an accident off the Gulf nation's coast.
Gulf International Services said in a statement Tuesday that the accident happened Sunday in the offshore al-Shaheen oil and gas field. It involved the jack-up rig "Rumailah," which is owned by the company's Gulf Drilling International division and was being operated by Denmark-based Maersk Oil.
GIS and Maersk spokesman Daniel Canty described the accident as a "punch through incident," and say all personnel were safely evacuated. GIS officials could not be reached for further details. No injuries were reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Norway's Aftenbladet newspaper published pictures purporting to show the rig partially submerged after it collapsed into the water.