An explosion has torn through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill. The blast, which threw 13 people into the water, was reported by a commercial helicopter company about 0930 local time (1330 GMT), Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel said. It is unclear if the structure is a production platform or a drilling rig.
An explosion has torn through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.
The blast, which threw 13 people into the water, was reported by a commercial helicopter company about 0930 local time (1330 GMT), Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel said.
It is unclear if the structure is a production platform or a drilling rig.
MAJOR UPDATE: According to CNN, this was a NATURAL GAS platform, not an oil rig. Additionally, a Paramedic on a neighboring rig said that he confirmed via helicopter radio chatter that NO ONE WAS INJURED. Obviously, that's a major conflict from what's been reported thus far, so I'll try to confirm as more information becomes available. Jesus, I feel like someone just punched me in the gut.
MAJOR UPDATE: According to CNN, this was a NATURAL GAS platform, not an oil rig. Additionally, a Paramedic on a neighboring rig said that he confirmed via helicopter radio chatter that NO ONE WAS INJURED. Obviously, that's a major conflict from what's been reported thus far, so I'll try to confirm as more information becomes available.
Jesus, I feel like someone just punched me in the gut.
An oil sheen has been reported near the site of an offshore oil platform that exploded and burst into flames off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew Masaschi told ABC News that Mariner Energy, the company that owns the rig platform, reported a "slight oil sheen" that measured "one nautical mile by 100 feet." One nautical mile measures just over a regular mile. "We're uncertain what the status of a potential leak is and we're trying to evaluate the situation," said Masaschi. A press release from the Mariner Energy contradicted the Coast Guards reports of the sheen. "In an initial flyover, no hydrocarbon spill was reported," read the release.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew Masaschi told ABC News that Mariner Energy, the company that owns the rig platform, reported a "slight oil sheen" that measured "one nautical mile by 100 feet." One nautical mile measures just over a regular mile.
"We're uncertain what the status of a potential leak is and we're trying to evaluate the situation," said Masaschi.
A press release from the Mariner Energy contradicted the Coast Guards reports of the sheen.
"In an initial flyover, no hydrocarbon spill was reported," read the release.
That size of a sheen could be the result of petrochemicals on the platform. I havn't seen any reports of fire, so perhaps the BOP Stack worked this time. Time will tell. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
Take two Allswell pills and go to bed. Call your therapist if you still feel bad tomorrow morning. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
