The Prospector 5 platform sank on 24 October on the Dussafu licence, offshore Gabon. Owned by Borr Drilling, which operated it, the platform lost its stability while being positioned for drilling, according to BW Energy.

In its statement published on 25 October, the operator said that 110 of the 115 people on board had been found safe and that five remained missing. It was supporting the search with the contractor, the authorities and the rescue services.

MaBoMo production was halted in line with preparation procedures. BW Energy reported no damage or accidental discharge from that facility, which is separate from the sunken platform.

Production already slowed before the accident

The licence was already facing operational difficulties. Preliminary figures published on 15 October put BW Energy's net attributable production at Dussafu at 16,800 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 20,000 a year earlier. The decline thus reaches 16%.

This decline preceded the sinking. A failed electric submersible pump had kept one well shut in for most of the quarter. To organise the intervention, the company had moved its two-week seasonal maintenance to October.

Wells designed to boost production

The programme presented on 15 October first provided for replacing this pump on an existing Hibiscus well. Four producing wells at MaBoMo Phase 2 were to follow, then a fifth at location 10P2. The campaign was already under way, and the platform was then heading to MaBoMo.

Before the accident, first oil from this campaign had been expected in the first quarter of 2027. With the wells coming on stream one after another, BW Energy aimed for up to 20,000 additional barrels per day at peak. This target is expressed as gross production for all partners, whereas Dussafu's quarterly statement measures the net volumes attributable to the company.

The development involves BW Energy, the operator with a 73.5% interest, Panoro Energy with 17.5% and Gabon Oil Company with 9%. The statement of 25 October does not present a revised industrial timetable. BW Energy's quarterly financial results are scheduled for release on 29 October.