Three Maritime Workers Injured in Inactive Oil Rig Fire

Three maritime workers sustained injuries after an inactive oil rig catches fire off the Louisiana coast. The incident took place on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, in Jefferson Parish waters approximately 20 miles south of New Orleans.

According to reports, crews were working on the inactive oil rig in Bayou Perot when the rig exploded. Though, the fire was put out quickly, 100 foot flames could be seen spewing from the burnt wellhead.

Three workers, who were welding on the workover rig when the incident occurred, sustained injuries. Rescue crews transported the three victims to a burn unit at Baton Rouge General Hospital where they were treated for burns to their hands and faces. Their conditions were not immediately made known.

Reports indicate that no pollution was detected immediately following the accident.

"We should take all precautions as they've done and we should monitor it to make sure and ascertain and document that there was in fact no oil or gas leak as a result of this incident," said Jefferson Parish President John Young.

It appears that the oil rig in question is owned by Grosse Tete. However, the company that reported the incident was Louisiana Delta Oil.

This incident occurred the same year that the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico claiming the lives of 11 maritime workers and sending millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf.