[knarf]

I would imagine there are extremely strict rules and regulations regarding ANYthing that has to do with fire, so I wonder about these things ..

I would think sabotage before I thought of a wayward cigarette.

[thackney]

I would think sabotage before I thought of a wayward cigarette.

I doubt a cigarette, but decades of working in the oil/gas industry has taught me fires are far too common. Spread of fire to this extent is more rare, but then, this is Pemex and has a rather bad history for safety.

[thackney]

Several deadly accidents have occurred at Pemex facilities in recent years. In September 2012, a leak at a Pemex pipeline near the U.S. border exploded, killing 29 and injuring 46. In 2013, 32 people died and 121 were injured in a gas explosion at Pemex’ headquarters in Mexico City.

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/04/01/pemex-platform-fire-kills-one-worker-injures-45/

[thackney]

Also I’m sure this did not help the operations and maintenance budgets after the decline in oil prices for Pemex.

http://petroglobalnews.com/2015/01/mexican-government-drains-3-4-billion-cash-from-pemex-bondholders-concerned/

Pemex bondholders are growing concerned over the company’s financial health after the Mexican government took $3.4 billion from the state owned explorer and producer late last month.

The Finance Ministry said it withdrew the funds on December 26 to “make management of public-sector finances more efficient” as the country braces itself for production declines and low oil prices.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Mexico.