VERMILION OIL RIG EXPLOSION Off Louisiana Coast

Just weeks after the BP Oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was finally capped, the Vermilion Oil rig 380, owned by Mariner Energy exploded in the already troubled Gulf of Mexico, just 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

Initial coast guard reports indicate no one was killed in the oil rig explosion, which was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the area Thursday morning. All 13 people aboard the Eploded Vermilion Oil rig 380, owned by Mariner Energy have been accounted for, with one injury. The extent of the injury was not known.







An offshore Vermilion Oil rig 380, owned by Mariner Energy exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP's undersea well spilled after a rig explosion.

Seven Coast Guard helicopters, two airplanes and three cutters were dispatched to the scene of the Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Mariner Energy Oil Rig Explosion. At this point, authorities do not know whether any oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico from the exploded Oil Rig.

The Department of Homeland Security reports the Vermilion Oil rig 380, owned by Mariner Energy was in about 2,500 feet of water when it exploded in Thursday morning. Early reports also indicate the Mariner Energy oil rig stationed in the Gulf of Mexico was not producing any oil at the time of the explosion, so there is hope for the already troubled people living in the region.

The Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP was in about 5,000 feet of water when it exploded and sank in April, killing 11 workers and triggering a leak of about 206 million gallons of oil.