One person reported injured as oil rig explodes in Gulf off Louisiana, USA Today September 2, 2010:
An oil rig has exploded in the Gulf of Louisiana, WDSU reports. Thirteen workers aboard the rig were reportedly thrown into the water, but have been accounted for. One person is reported injured.
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 11:38 a.m. ET: MSNBC quotes Coast Guard Petty Officer John... Edwards says 9 helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft as well as four Coast Guard cutters have been sent to the site.
Wonder if this the Saratoga that has been loosing oil to the Gulf that was spotted by private aircraft on video posted just before the No Fly Zone was imposed. Also makes me wonder if there was a sudden build up of Methane gas that caused this anomaly. Possibility we will never know the truth, sad to say !
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.