Fcking oil rigs, how do they work? (Serious)

**86 IROC-Z** · 09-02-2010, 08:02 AM

Coast Guard responding to rig fire Gulf of Mexico; people reported in water

Updated: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 10:57 AM

The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a rig explosion and fire "and people in the water'' in the Gulf of Mexico south of Vermilion Bay, authorities said.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Casey Ranel said the rig is around 90 miles south of Vermilion Bay and that a helicopter earlier today reported that it was in fire "and that there was smoke and there were people in the water.''

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.

Immersion suits protect the wearer from hypothermia.

All 13 people abandoned the rig after the explosion and are accounted for, but have not yet been rescued from the Gulf, the Coast Guard said.

Colclough said the rig was not actively producing at the time of the incident.

The injured will be taken Terrebone General Medical Center in Houma.

Eight helicopters, two airplanes and four boats are en route from Coast Guard stations in New Orleans and Houston, Ranel said.

She said the rig, Vermilion Oil Rig 380, is owned by Mariner Energy, but that details were scarce.

Vermilion Oil Rig 360 is a gas and oil rig in 450 feet of water in South Timbalier Block 316, according to company records.