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"At least 11 people are missing after an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.  The U.S. Coast Guard says more than 120 workers have been evacuated from the platform.  At least seven suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to hospitals, and it's still unclear what caused the blast." (Russia Today)
 
Fire crews are still battling the blaze on Deepwater Horizon -- an oil rig off the Louisiana coast. But investigators still haven't determined the cause of the explosion.

On CNN, a blogger says crews stationed on oil-rigs are well-equipped to contain fires; the explosion on Deepwater Horizon is a rarity.

 

"Safety training happens at least daily for every person on the rig, and there is a zero tolerance policy for even minute breaches. Rigs are some of the safest places to be.  Which is what makes the explosion on the oil rig in the Gulf all the more unexpected and means it was likely one that happened very fast."

 

The U.S. Coast Guard, Minerals Management Service and BP will investigate the cause of the explosion -- but not yet. On MSNBC, a Coast Guard spokesperson explains their current focus.

 
"We got the call at about 10am that there was an explosion and a fire on the Deepwater Horizon and once we got that notification we jumped into our search and rescue mode and that's what our focus is right now.  We launched helicopters, airplanes and boats last night."

But on New Orleans' CBS affiliate, WWL, a reporter says officials won't stall investigations; they're probing into the cause of the explosion right now.

"The Coast Guard tells us that two investigators are en route or already may be there from Morgan City.  One is going to determine what the cause of this blaze and explosion was, while the other tries to figure out any remaining or any potential environmental impacts from this oil rig explosion."

In a Forbes blog, Associate Editor Christopher Helman speculates that drilling mud -- a thick fluid that prevents oil and gas from blasting up wellbores, or drilling holes -- caused the explosion.

"The speculation is that something went wrong with the circulation of this drilling mud such that it could no longer control the reservoir pressures. This would have caused what's known as a "kick" -- when oil or gas flow into the wellbore during drilling. It seems likely that this oil and gas came up the wellbore. Once ignited, it fed the fire."

But on The Christian Science Monitor, the former president of Amoco Latin American, Jorge Pinon, explains a different focus for investigation.

"The investigation will focus on human error and mechanical malfunction, says Mr. Pinon, adding that such advanced rigs 'need a lot of tender loving care to operate.'"

The worst offshore oil rig disaster in history killed 167 people and caused over $3 billion in damages. It happened in 1988, when a gas leak triggered an explosion on the Piper Alpha oil rig in the North Sea.
 
Writer: Courtney Cebula
Producer: Newsy Staff
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Search Continues After Oil Rig Explodes in Gulf

April 22, 2010
(2:55)
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An oil rig off the Louisiana coast exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, injuring at least seven and launching a search for a dozen missing crew members.
   
Sources:Russia TodayCNNMSNBCWWLForbesThe Christian Science Monitor
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