Rig evacuated after blast

Monday 02 May 1994 23:02 BST

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Ninety-eight workers were evacuated from the Piper Bravo rig 120 miles north of Aberdeen after a gas explosion.

Elf Enterprise Caledonia, the rig's operator, said there was no fire and all 180 oil workers were safe. The decision to evacuate some staff was 'a safety precaution'. Eighty-two workers remained on board.

The blast was thought to have been caused by excess gas leaking from the flare stack where it is burnt off.

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Rig evacuated after blast

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