Mariner Oil Rig Explodes in Gulf

By TENNILLE TRACY

WASHINGTON—A drilling rig owned by Mariner Energy Inc. has caught fire 80 miles south of Vermillion Bay in Louisiana, stranding at least 13 rig workers in the water, said the U.S. Coast Guard.
” alt=”Oil Rig in Vermillion Bay” />
Of the 13 workers, one is injured, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel.

The Coast Guard has dispatched nine helicopters, two planes and four cutters to respond to the fire and to rescue the workers.

“We’re just trying to get the people safely out of the water,” Petty Officer Ranel said.

The name of the Mariner Energy rig that caught fire is the Vermillion Oil Rig 380, he said.

Update at 12:14 p.m. ET: The New Orleans Tiems-Picayune descrbies the facility, called Vermillion 380, as a “fixed, manned production platform.” The newspaper says the platform is not involved in drilling and, unlike the ill-fated BP rig, is not a floating rig, but rather is a fixed platform.

Update at 12:11 p.m. ET: The Coast Guard tells MSNBC that the facility is not a rig, but is a platform that does not do any drilling.

Update at 12:04 p.m. ET: The rig, owned by Mariner Energy, is located west of the BP spill site, the Associated Press reports. The incident was first reported by a commercial helicopter company around 10:30 a.m. ET, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel. The Coast Guard confirmes there is one injury, but no deaths. The platform is in about 2,500 feet of water, the Coast Guard said, but is not currently producing, the AP reports.

Update at 11:48 a.m. ET: Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel says a helicopter was sent to the site after a report that the rig was on fire “and that there was smoke and there were people in the water,” The Times-Picayune of New Orleans reports.

Update at 11:41 a.m. ET: The Coast Guard says the oil rig is located 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay, Louisiana.

Update at 11:38 a.m. ET: MSNBC quotes Coast Guard Petty Officer John Edwards as saying one worker has been injured, but he did not know the extent of the injuries. Edwards says 9 helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft as well as four Coast Guard cutters have been sent to the site.

Update at 11:35 a.m. ET: MSNBC quotes a Coast Guard spokesman as saying all of the workers were wearing protective gear.