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Mariner Energy's Vermillion Oil Production Platform 380 Explodes Off the Coast of Louisiana: 13 Workers Rescued, One Injured

Posted: 09-02-10Category:

The Vermillion Oil Production Platform 380, owned by Mariner Energy, exploded today about 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Thirteen crew members were rescued with one reported injury. Here is the Associated Press story:

13 rescued in Gulf platform explosion

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued 13 workers from a Mariner Energy production platform located about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast.
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The explosion took place at about 9:30 a.m., according to a Rebecca Broussard, director of the Office of Emergency Management for Vermillion Parish, La. In an interview with CNN, Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said there were 13 people on the rig and that all were accounted for. Twelve of the workers are in immersion suits and one is injured, he said. The platform, located in 2,500 feet of water, appears to be fairly small, producing about 12 million cubic feet of natural gas and 3,500 barrels of oil per day. It is 100 percent owned and operated by Mariner Energy. Mariner Energy Inc. focuses on oil and gas exploration and production in the Gulf. In April, Apache Corp., another independent oil company, announced plans to buy Mariner in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $3.9 billion, including the assumption of about $1.2 billion of Mariner's debt. That deal is pending. Coast Guard Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau told the AP that seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene from New Orleans, Houston and Mobile, Ala. Apache Corp. is in the process of closing on a $2.7 billion acquisition of Mariner. Update: The fire is out. Initially, the Coast Guard reported seeing a mile long oil sheen near Mariner Energy's exploded Vermillion 380 production platform, but the Coast Guard has since retracted that statement and now claims that there is no visible oil slick.  Stay tuned! If you have been involved in an offshore accident in the Gulf of Mexico, contact The Ferrell Law Firm, P.C. for immediate assistance from a Double Board Certified Trial Attorney at (713) 800-0220.  We can help you.

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