Oil rig explosion off Louisiana coast
Oil rig explosion was west of the site of the April explosion that caused the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil rig explosion was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the area Thursday morning. All 13 people aboard the oil rig have been accounted for.
In this image obtained from the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive patrols around the Deepwater Horizon well site in the Gulf of Mexico on August 4, 2010. According to the USCG, the Cutter Decisive is reponding to a reported oil rig explosion in the gulf on September 02, 2010.
USCG/Petty Officer 3rd Class David R. Marin/AFP/Newscom/File
GRAND ISLE, La.
UPDATED at 12:57 EDT: An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP's undersea well spilled after a rig explosion.
The Coast Guard says no one was killed in the blast, which was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the area Thursday morning. All 13 people aboard the rig have been accounted for, with one injury. The extent of the injury was not known.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said some of those from the rig were spotted in emergency flotation devices.
IN PICTURES: Life on an oil rig
Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene from New Orleans, Houston and Mobile, Ala., Ben-Iesau said. She said authorities do not know whether oil was leaking from the site.
The Department of Homeland Security said the platform was in about 2,500 feet of water and owned by Mariner Energy of Houston. DHS said it was not producing oil and gas.
The Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP was in about 5,000 feet of water when it exploded and sank in April, killing 11 workers and triggering a leak of about 206 million gallons of oil.
IN PICTURES: Life on an oil rig