13 Workers Rescued From Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Explosion, Fire

HOUSTON - Thirteen workers were rescued from the Gulf of Mexico after an oil rig platform caught fire and exploded about 100 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

All of the rig's crew members were wearing survival gear as they were rescued from the water. No injuries were reported, according to the platform's owner.

According to a statement from Houston-based Mariner Energy, Inc., an initial flyover of the scene did not show a hydrocarbon spill, and the U.S. Coast Guard backed off an initial statement indicating there was a mile-long oil sheen coming from the platform.

At an afternoon press conference, officials said they would continue to monitor the burned rig for any leaks.

One of the first photos of the oil rig fire was published by CultureMap . A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising from the rig, and a five-mile "no fly zone" was established.

The fire was first reported Thursday around 9:30 a.m. Central time at the Vermillion 380 oil platform south of Grand Isle, Louisiana. A nearby commercial helicopter spotted the smoke and alerted it to authorities.

The Coast Guard in Houston sent two helicopters to the scene. In all, seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes, and three cutters were dispatched. According to the company, all crew members were accounted for despite an earlier report that indicated one person was missing.

The rig's entire crew was found floating in the water, sticking close together, Coast Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer John Edwards told the Associated Press.

"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 and things of that nature," Edwards said.

KATC-TV published a photo of the men waiting to be rescued, attributing it to an anonymous viewer.

In a statement released by Mariner Energy, the company said a cause for the fire had not been determined. The company also said in the last week of August, the oil platform produced about 9.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 1,400 barrels of oil. The rig sits in about 340 feet of water.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says the company told him all seven active wells on the platform were shut down after the fire broke out. Unlike rigs, platforms don't have blowout prevents but safety valves to shut off the oil and gas.

"All those valves closed. They're all closed. The wells are sealed," said Don Van Nieuwenhuise, professor of geo sciences at the University of Houston.

"It's never good to have one of these safety mishaps but all safety equipment worked properly. The wells were shut in and people got off safely," he said.

As of 5 p.m. Central time, the rig's fire was said to be extinguished after Mariner dispatched three firefighting vessels to fight the blaze.

Records from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement show the Mariner company has had nine accidents in the last four years. One of those accidents included a blowout. There were also four fires.

The location of Thursday's fire is west of April's Deep Water Horizon explosion. That rig was in 5,000 feet of water when it exploded and sank. Eleven people were killed and about 206 million gallons of oil leaked into the gulf.

>> Mariner Energy Distances Self from BP Explosion

Read Statement Issued by Mariner Energy, Inc:
http://media2.myfoxhouston.com/news/2010-09-02/mariner-energy-statement.jpg

Originally reported on MyFoxHouston.com

FOX 26 Reporter Sally Mcdonald contributed to this report