Oil rig explodes in gulf of mexico

[fallstuff]

September 2, 2010 -- Updated 1621 GMT (0021 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The platform was "not actively producing any product," Coast Guard says
NEW: It is not known "if there are any additional concerns of pollution," he says
Thirteen people are accounted for after the explosion, the Coast Guard says
(CNN) -- An oil platform has exploded 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana, with 13 people overboard, including one injured, the Coast Guard said Thursday morning.
The explosion happened south of Vermilion Bay on the Vermilion 380, which is owned by Mariner Energy, said John Edwards, a chief petty officer with the Coast Guard in New Orleans.

 

[fallstuff]

Mile-long sheen after Gulf oil platform explodes

GRAND ISLE, La. — Another oil rig exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico west of the site of BP's massive spill. All 13 crew members were rescued.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Coklough said the sheen, about 100 feet (30 meters) wide, was spotted near the platform. Firefighting vessels were battling the flames.

The company that owns the rig, Houston-based Mariner Energy, did not know what caused the blast, which was reported by a helicopter flying over the area.

Crew members were found floating in the water, huddled together in survival outfits called "gumby suits."

"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's all the hazards of the water such as hypothermia," Coast Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer John Edwards said.

The crew was being flown to a hospital in Houma. Coast Guard Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said one person was injured, but the company said there were no injuries.

Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene.

Link:
Mile-long sheen after Gulf oil platform explodes - U.S. news - Life - msnbc.com

 

[somebozo]

Why are these rigs exploding one by one>?? I think something is suspecious here!

 

[GentlemanObserver]

Why are these rigs exploding one by one>?? I think something is suspecious here!

Yeah it's called Poor health and safety!

 

[PanzerFaust]

I work in Oil industry and have worked in GOM as well.

Gulf of Mexico (Not the deep sea) is one of the most extensively explored and drilled area.

Here is a image describing extensive network of undersea pipelines (again shallow waters only)

The problem is some of these platforms are over their service life, and others get constantly battered by hurricanes every year, some of the old platforms are owned by smaller companies who just want to get whatever trickle they are producing.

BP accident was a eye opener in Deepsea operations. Deepsea drilling is one of the toughest engineering challenges, however technology is quite mature but most of stuff works on theoretical calulations backed up by factors of safety. So until something happens, overhauls don't occur. I am sure with BP disaster, another couple of backup mechanisms for deep sea drilling will come over all over the world.