Rig Blowout In Gulf Of Mexico Forces 47 To Evacuate

An oil rig blowout in the Gulf of Mexico this morning forced 47 workers to evacuate.

According to WWLTV, the 47 workers were rescued by two offshore supply vessels. The Coast Guard reports that all workers were accounted for and no one suffered any injuries in the accident.

ABC reports that a “light sheen” covering an area of a half-mile by 50 feet was spotted by a helicopter near the accident but that it was dissipating quickly.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said: “Walter Oil & Gas this morning reported the loss of control of Well A-3 on an unmanned platform at South Timbalier Block 220 while doing completion work on the sidetrack well to prepare the well for production. The well is flowing gas and no oil is being released… BSEE inspectors conducting an overflight reported a light sheen one-half mile by 50 feet in area which is dissipating almost immediately.”

John T. Rynd, President and CEO of Hercules, the company that owns the rig, said in a statement that the company’s first priority was making sure all of its workers were safe. Now that the 47 crew members have been accounted for, Hercules will look into the cause of the rig blowout and any possible environmental damage.

Rynd said: “Our first and foremost concern is for the safety of all personnel aboard our drilling rig and we have taken every necessary precaution to safely evacuate the rig. Furthermore, efforts are ongoing with our client, Walter Oil & Gas, to mobilize the necessary resources to regain control of the well and minimize any potential impact on the environment.”

The rig blowout occurred about 40 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.