Dozens rescued after blowout on Louisiana gas well
An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast caught fire after 44 workers were safely evacuated from the drilling rig following a mid-morning blowout. An environment official said it was not known what caused the gas to ignite. It also wasn't clear early yesterday how and when crews would attempt to extinguish the blaze.
An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast caught fire after 44 workers were safely evacuated from the drilling rig following a mid-morning blowout.
No injuries were reported.
An environment official said it was not known what caused the gas to ignite. It also wasn't clear early yesterday how and when crews would attempt to extinguish the blaze.
Wild Well Control was hired to try to bring the well under control. Its workers approached the well before the fire but determined it was unsafe to get close.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said inspectors flying over the site soon after the blowout saw a light sheen covering an area about 800 metres by 15 metres. However, it was dissipating quickly.
Earlier this month a gas well off the Louisiana coast flowed for several days before being sealed.