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Gas drilling rig on fire in Gulf of Mexico | Gas drilling rig on fire in Gulf of Mexico |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A fire has broken out on a rig drilling for gas in the Gulf of Mexico, 55 miles (85km) off the Louisiana coast, US officials say. | A fire has broken out on a rig drilling for gas in the Gulf of Mexico, 55 miles (85km) off the Louisiana coast, US officials say. |
A blowout at the well on Tuesday morning forced the evacuation of 44 workers from the platform. | A blowout at the well on Tuesday morning forced the evacuation of 44 workers from the platform. |
US Coast Guard and federal safety officials are still trying to assess the potential hazards. | US Coast Guard and federal safety officials are still trying to assess the potential hazards. |
The area was hit by the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded in 2010, leaking millions of gallons of oil. | The area was hit by the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded in 2010, leaking millions of gallons of oil. |
Eleven oil rig workers were killed in what was the worst US offshore disaster. | Eleven oil rig workers were killed in what was the worst US offshore disaster. |
The latest blowout was not of that magnitude, officials told the Associated Press news agency. | The latest blowout was not of that magnitude, officials told the Associated Press news agency. |
On Wednesday morning the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said the fire was damaging the rig structure. | |
"As the rig fire continues, the beams supporting the derrick and rig floor have folded and have collapsed over the rig structure," the agency said in a statement. | |
But after an aerial tour of the rig, no gas sheen was visible on the water surface. | |
One Coast Guard cutter, Pompano, is near the scene and another, Cypress, is travelling to the area. | |
In addition, "a third vessel equipped with fire-fighting capability and improved monitoring system is enroute," the BSEE added. | |
The portable drilling rig - which operates in shallow waters of 154ft (47m) - is owned by Hercules, a contractor for the exploration and production company Walter Oil & Gas Corporation. | |
The BSEE said the fire broke out while workers were completing construction of a "sidetrack well". The purpose of the sidetrack well was not immediately clear, but industry analysts say they are sometimes used if there is a problem with the main well. | |
The BSEE said it was investigating the cause of the fire, along with the Coast Guard. | |
Industry experts are at the scene to try to work out how to bring the well fire under control. | Industry experts are at the scene to try to work out how to bring the well fire under control. |