Borr Drilling rig sinks off Gabon, five personnel missing

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Borr ‌Drilling's ​Prospector ​5 drilling rig sank during jacking operations off the coast of ‌Gabon as it prepared for a drilling ⁠campaign, with 5 of the 115 people ‌on board unaccounted for, ‌the company said on Sunday.

"Preliminary information indicates that the rig experienced a punch-through ​event during preload activities, resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking ⁠of the rig," the offshore drilling contractor said.

The Prospector ​5 oil and gas rig, owned and operated by Borr, is contracted ​to support BW Energy's ‌drilling operations off Gabon, it said.

"We are deeply concerned for those ⁠who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident," said Borr Drilling Chief ⁠Executive Bruno Morand.

"Our immediate priority is supporting the ​ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved."

Panoro Energy, which holds a ‌17.5% stake in the field, said production had been halted, adding ‌that there were no reports of ⁠damage or accidental ‌discharges.

(Reporting by Akanksha ​Khushi and Gnaneshwar Rajan in BengaluruEditing by William Mallard and David ‌Goodman)

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