What happened to the Arabdrill 19 (AD19) jack-up rig in Khafji Field?

On 30 September 2002 a blowout occurred on the Arabdrill 19 jack-up rig which engulfed the platform in flames, causing it to collapse. The owners and managers of the rig reported no fatalities and several injuries, however other reports do state that three people were killed.

How did the Arabdrill 19 jack-up rig fire start?

A leg of the rig reportedly buckled, causing the rig to collapse and sink. Contact with rocks and sand under pressure then caused a vapour gas cloud to ignite.

What can the industry learn from the Arabdrill 19 jack-up rig blowout?

The rig was constructed in 1982 and had been in service for some 20 years before the incident. Details on what exactly took place are vague, but the rig was later salvaged and bought for a reported £2.5m in 2005. Reconstruction work on the rig was completed in early 2008.