Mariner Energy facility explodes in Gulf of Mexico

September 2, 2010

The Vancouver Sun

An oil and gas facility owned by Mariner Energy Inc. off the coast of Louisiana was on fire Thursday, and the U.S. Coast Guard said it was working to rescue 13 workers.

"Thirteen out of 13 are accounted for and it's still burning," said a spokesman for the Eighth District Coast Guard Command Center in New Orleans.

A Mariner spokesman did not reply to several phone messages.

It was not immediately clear whether it was a rig or a producing platform.

The Coast Guard said rescue ships and helicopters were flying from New Orleans and Houston to the burning rig.

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