Chevron Rig Fire on 9th Day Off Nigeria’s Coast

Chevron Corp. says it is still trying to extinguish a nine-day old fire that consumed the visible part of its rig off Nigeria’s coast and killed two foreign workers.

Chevron said Tuesday it is finalizing plans for a relief well to fight the fire that started last week in a natural gas exploration well near Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta.

An official from FODE Drilling Ltd., which operated the rig on Chevron’s behalf, said an Indian national and a French national had not been found. 152 other workers were rescued, Chevron said.

The San Ramon, California-based energy company says it is monitoring for environmental impact. The coastal community told an environmental group the fire killed fish and tinted the sky “orange-red.”

Nigerian authorities blamed the fire on a buildup of gas pressure.