The battle to control the fire moved up a gear on 16 September with the arrival of a Spanish barge on the scene. In the meantime, the authorities drilled a number of relief wells to help them control the blaze, which began on 10 August.

Deputy Oil Minister Mohammed Shamil Hamdi said three rigs are now drilling three relief wells. He said work was well underway to begin production from a new nearby platform being set up as part of the expansion of the Temsah field.