Platform explodes in Gulf, 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay
[UPDATE: The AP is reporting a mile-long, 100-foot wide oil sheen flowing from this morning's production platform explosion in the Gulf. The following statement was released by Gov. Bobby Jindal about 3 p.m. today, after his press conference:
“It is too early to know what sparked the fire. The Coast Guard will do interviews with those who were rescued from the rig in order to determine the cause of the fire. Mariner is also investigating the cause of the fire on their platform, which is still burning at this time, but they told us they believe the fire is ‘almost burned out’ at this point.
“Mariner confirmed there were 13 people on board the platform. One was injured, but all are accounted for and have now been picked up by the Coast Guard and are being transported to Terrebonne GeneralHospital for evaluation of any injuries.
“Five aircraft from the US Coast Guard were launched from New Orleans in response to the incident, along with two helicopters from Houston and one fixed wing aircraft from Mobile. The Coast Guard set up a flight restriction zone – 10 miles across in diameter and 5,000 feet high in order to support any search and rescue efforts.
“Officials with Mariner told us there are seven active wells on the production platform, and at one time there were 13 active wells. One of those active seven are said to have caught fire and the company says that all seven are shut in right now, but I want to stress again that the Coast Guard is still working to verify that the platform is indeed fully shut in. Current production from the platform is 1,400 barrels a day - 1,800 barrels a day maximum - and 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, Mariner officials told us.
“I also want to point out that the platform is in 340 feet of water, making it a shallow water well. There has also been a report of sheen around the platform that is one nautical mile by 100 feet, but again, this was reported by one source and has not been confirmed.
“We know that two pipelines from this platform go to shore: one is for Shell, which has not been active in months, and the other is for A&R, which is active. A vessel named the ‘Candy Apple’ is on site now combating the fire and Mariner Energy is exercising their fire-fighting plan.
“US Coast Guard Admiral Mary Landry said the Coast Guard will take the lead on pollution response. US Coast Guard Capt. Ed Stanton is the point person to ensure that the firefighting plan the company is executing does not worsen the shut in of the platform. Adm. Landry said assets from the Deepwater Horizon response are still located nearby. Capt. Stanton said Coast Guard’s first response would be to apply dispersants in the event of oil leaking, but with only a sheen reported at this time they will not activate that response yet.
“Mariner suspects that what is burning now was in storage. The company had 100 barrels of condensate on the platform, but again, there is no confirmation of what is burning at this time and the Coast Guard is continuing to work to confirm the source of the fire.
“We know from the Deepwater Horizon Spill that information comes in very rapidly and often changes as our awareness increases on the ground. We already have a Coast Guard liaison embedded, which is very important to maintain maximum situational awareness as this incident continues to unfold.”
The governor also stressed that the state is ready to provide any resources needed in response activities. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has already deployed four 32-foot Boston Whaler boats to the site of the platform fire. Those boats were launched out of Vermillion this morning. Additionally, Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office are sending agency representatives to work with response officials on site in Vermillion.]
ORIGINAL STORY: An oil platform has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, about 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay, and at least one person was injured. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to several media outlets that the production platform is still burning, and that 13 people were overboard.
Gov. Bobby Jindal will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
The Times-Picayune reported that the explosion and fire occurred on Vermilion Oil Rig 380, which is owned by Mariner Energy. The T-P confirmed that Vermilion 380 is a fixed, manned production platform. It’s not a well being drilled for oil, like BP’s Macondo well, and it’s not a floating rig like the Deepwater Horizon, the paper noted.
The incident was first reported by a commercial helicopter company around 9:30 a.m., according to the Coast Guard.
... written by LAF NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 02, 2010 - 06:15 pm
Now everybody, where are all these drill baby drill nit wits. We, especially Louisianians, need to follow Obama in his quest to make us energy independent without oil.
SISTER SARAH PALIN AND JINDAL AND COMPANY, HAVE YOU NO SHAME-I GUESS NOT.
People across America, we must get these tea baggers or partiers, whatever name they are calling themselves today, we need to get these people crazy, nutbag ideas off of the political stage.
They are just as nutty as BUSH/CHENEY were.
We Americans were smart enough to elect a President of extreme intellect and impecable morals, lets follow him so that we can fix this MESS that BUSH/CHENEY and the rest of these LUNATICS left at our doorstep.
... written by HARD HAT , September 02, 2010 - 07:53 pm
Thank you JESUS, for distracting this wannabe superhero, from his self imposed watchdog venery of our political son, RICKY HARDY . JEEZE, THIS PECON BELONGS IN GIRARD PARK WITH THE REST OF THE SQUIRRELS !
... written by LAF NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 02, 2010 - 08:01 pm
HARD HAT,
Just remember, SLICK RICK HARDY is among those clowns. He is sitting on the sidelines with his shirt open displaying is CRIME DOG CAPE.
... written by RCajunrunner , September 02, 2010 - 08:47 pm
"We, especially Louisianians, need to follow Obama in his quest to make us energy independent without oil."
By far the dumbest thing I've read today, and I scrolled through comments on the Daily Advertiser site this morning, so you've really hit a great level of ignorance.
We can and should reach a level where vehicles are fueled without oil, i.e. natural gas. However, natural gas needs drilling operations.
Also, how do you expect the plastic on that keyboard or cell phone you're typing on to be produced without exploring and producing oil? You want to go back to killing whales by the thousands to make petroleum-based products?
I hope you don't ride a bike or walk in tennis/athletic shoes either.
... written by LAF NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 02, 2010 - 09:02 pm
RCajunrunner,
Thats a good point. My concern is that if we don't start mass producing alternative sources of energy-if we don't get the whole country moving in that direction NOW, under this administration-Manhattan Project of sorts, we may never have another chance to do so.
Certainly we need to continue drilling and exploring for energy, oil, gas, coal-but we must make clean energy a top priority.
On the 10 freeway in Palms Spring there are 5000 wind mills on either side of the 10 freeway for more than a mile. I must admit, it is a bit hard on the eyes at times. However, I much rather that site than the site of watching billions go to the middle east every day.
Lets elect people with vision and not just with slogans, eg; mama grizzly, take our country back, muslim, cut social security, etc.
... written by ragin_cajun , September 02, 2010 - 11:11 pm
"Now everybody, where are all these drill baby drill nit wits."
Right here. Drill more. Drill in the Gulf. This doesn't change a thing. Stiff penalties for spills, REAL oversight of drilling operations and more inspections of production platforms, fine by me--but DRILL.
Tell the Arabs they can drink their oil. We have our own. If we run out, burn coal.
" watching billions go to the middle east every day. " That's it! Stop buying oil from the mid east, stop propping up their tyrrants, and stop sending money to China, too. If the Feds won't stop, then we need to starve the government of money.
Every one of our problems in America we made for ourselves.
... written by Northdidian Shotgun . , September 03, 2010 - 01:49 am
Ragin_Cajun, when God said "Anyone For Petroleum Jelly ? Who'd you think was at the front of the line..........
... written by HARD HAT , September 03, 2010 - 02:20 am
MAIS, how you put some wind in that CAR TANK in california, thats new, EH ? Why ARE we still pipelining that gas and oil to the sunny state of make believe, when they got all that wind to run everything, they won't drill off their coast, why should they Texas, Louisiana, Miss. Ala. & Fla. will pieline the oil and gas to the "FRUIT LOOPS !
... written by LAF NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 03, 2010 - 02:18 pm
HARD HAT,
Ever heard of those electric battery manufacter plants that Obama is setting up around the country? Them there things is going to power our cars.
Come on HARD HAT, that news must have made it to Louisiana by now.
USE THE GOOGLE!
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SISTER SARAH PALIN AND JINDAL AND COMPANY, HAVE YOU NO SHAME-I GUESS NOT.
People across America, we must get these tea baggers or partiers, whatever name they are calling themselves today, we need to get these people crazy, nutbag ideas off of the political stage.
They are just as nutty as BUSH/CHENEY were.
We Americans were smart enough to elect a President of extreme intellect and impecable morals, lets follow him so that we can fix this MESS that BUSH/CHENEY and the rest of these LUNATICS left at our doorstep.