The Roncador oil field is a large oil and gas field located in the Campos Basin, 125 km (78 mi) off the coast of Brazil, northeast of Rio de Janeiro.

In the early hours of March 15, 2001 there were two unexplained explosions in the aft starboard column.

Following the explosions, the platform developed a 16° list, sufficient to allow down-flooding from the submerged fairlead boxes.

Marine salvage teams tried over the weekend to save the platform by pumping nitrogen and compressed air into the tanks to expel the water, but they abandoned the rig after bad weather.

The platform sank five days after the explosions (March 20), in 1,200 m (3,940 ft) of water with an estimated 1,500 tonnes (1,700 short tons) of crude oil remaining on board.