Oil workers rescued after explosion on rig

There has been another explosion on an offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the April blast that caused the huge and damaging oil spill. Seven helicopters, two aeroplanes and four boats were sent to the site which is about 100 miles south of Vermilion Bay off the central Louisiana coast, after U.S. Coast Guard officers received reports of the explosion at the rig.

All the 13 people who were onboard the rig at the time were rescued from the sea by an  offshore service vessel, the Crystal Clear, and then taken to a nearby platform after evacuating as the fire onboard took hold. It’s thought that one of the crew members were hurt however its not yet clear to what extent. The men were flown from the platform and taken to the Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma to be checked out.

Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer John Edwards said: “Thirteen people were seen huddled together in the water wearing gumby suits or immersion suits, water protection suits, so we were able to confirm that all people were accounted for, these guys had the presence of mind, used their training to get into those gumby suits before they entered the water. It speaks volumes to safety training and the importance of it because, beyond getting off the rig, there are all the hazards of the water such as hypothermia.”

The platform, which produces 1,400 barrels of oil a day and900, 000 cubic litres of natural gas, is known as Vermilion Oil Platform 380 and was owned by Mariner Energy of Houston.

Picture courtesy of kenhodge 13

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