by Hans | September 2nd, 2010
An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of BP’s Macondo well. A commercial helicopter company reported the blast to the coast guard around 9:30 a.m. CDT.
The Coast Guard reported that no one was killed in the blast, and all 13 people on board were accounted for with only one injury. The agency initially reported no leaking oil from the site, however the coast guard has now reported a 1 mile by 100-ft sheen, near the burning Mariner Energy rig.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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.
Source: The Maritime Executive
