A production platform belonging to Mariner Energy from Houston, Texas exploded and caught fire, sending the entire crew into the water. Thankfully everyone survived.
The explosion happened less than 100 miles from the coast of Louisiana. Flames and smoke could be seen from a distance.
Several airplanes, helicopters and boats responded. The fire burned for several hours.
The production platform is a home away from home. When the fire erupted, all 13 of the workers dove into the Gulf.
Wearing nothing but their clothes and reddish-orange life jackets....they stayed together holding hands and floated in the water until help arrived.
Their prayers were answered two hours later. They were hungry and tired....but only one of them injured.
Mariner Energy says it still does not know what caused the explosion. A company spokesperson says during an initial flyover, it did "not" find any oil in the water. The Vermillion 380 was not producing oil and hasn't since it was damaged in 2008 during Hurricane Ike.
The company had hoped to get the rig up and running again by the end of the year.
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