Wells Services Petroleum Company Limited has announced that salvage and recovery operations on Rig 110 in the Heritage Soldado Field will begin, once a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) is issued by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).
Eight months since the collapse of Rig 110 in December 2024 resulted in the tragic death of employee Pete Phillip, the company said efforts have continued to complete salvage and recovery operations.
Initially projected by the company to begin in June 2025, it said this was contingent on the fulfilment of necessary regulatory requirements.
A CEC application was submitted to the EMA in July 2025, and in August 2025, the EMA informed Wells Services that the application is being processed, and a determination as to whether the CEC will be granted will be made by September 18th 2025 – thirty working days from August 6th 2025.
Once issued, a US-based salvage company will begin mobilisation activities, including deploying specialised equipment to Trinidad and Tobago. A specialised barge, stationed in Trinidad and Tobago’s waters since August 2025, will also assist in the recovery effort.
The statement from Wells Services comes two days after the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) expressed concern about the continued delay in the salvage and recovery efforts stemming from the Rig 110 incident, which occurred in December 2024 and tragically claimed the life of Mr. Pete Phillip.
Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI), Ernesto Kesar, had appealed to all parties involved to act with urgency, safety, and compassion to bring closure to Mr. Phillip’s family and loved ones.