2 dead, 2 injured in Gulf oil rig fire

[Grateful11]

"The U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans confirms that a fire has erupted in a Gulf oil rig off the Louisiana coast, KHOU-TV reported.

The Houston TV station said an early report indicated that two people are dead and two are missing in fire."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/natio...a/1709131/

[Speedy]

Maybe we can fund the government by fining oil companies. Reminds me, I have to fill up the car. My next one will be electric and I'll plug it into Vermont's grid.

[cbelt3]

A great pity. My condolences to their families.

[Rain]

Last report I read said the maintenance crew was using a cutting torch on a 3" pipe when the explosion happened. 4 men had already been removed from the platform as standard operating procedure. 11 were taken off safely. 11 more are in area hospitals. 2 are still missing.

All taken from Coast Guard interview just heard on the local radio (crew member status) and Huffington Post article.(cause of the accident)

[Rain]

This was not a producing oil platform. Drilling crew were not on board. (only maintenance crew)
The oil sheen is about 200 yards wide and a half a mile long. It seems there was about 28 gallons of oil in the pipe at the time of the explosion.