Platform explodes in Gulf of Mexico; 13 people evacuated

An oil and natural gas platform owned by Mariner Energy Inc. exploded in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay off Louisiana on Sept. 2, and 13 people went into the water, the US Coast Guard in New Orleans reported.

Sept. 2, 2010

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 2 -- An oil and natural gas platform owned by Mariner Energy Inc. exploded in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay off Louisiana on Sept. 2, and 13 people went into the water, the US Coast Guard in New Orleans reported.

A commercial helicopter company reported the accident on Vermilion Block 380 at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 2. The platform is in 340 ft of water. The platform was not in production at the time, but was in the process of being painted, a Mariner spokesman said. Cause of the blast was unknown.

During the last week of August, production from the platform averaged 9.2 MMcfd of gas and 1,400 b/d of oil and condensate, Mariner reported.

USGC sent seven helicopters, two airplanes, and four boats to the site. An oil sheen was reported near the platform. No other details were immediately available. All 13 workers have been located, and 12 of them wore immersion suits to protect them from hypothermia, the USCG said.