Vermilion 380 Platform Explodes in the Gulf

Another oil platform has exploded 80 miles South of Vermilion Bay, Louisiana approximately 9:00 this morning. All 13 crew members who apparently went into the water are accounted for and only one injury is being reported at this time. The injured crew members were taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma, Louisiana.

As of the time of this article, it is still unclear whether or not the damaged rig is leaking oil and the explosion is assumed to be because of natural gas.

The Vermilion 380 is owned by Mariner Energy of Houston and was a "fixed platform" (anchored to the sea floor) and primarily used as a production platform. Early reports suggest that the production of natural gas was the primary function of this platform which is also equipped to produce oil. Coast Guard officials are referring to the Vermilion 380 as a "platform" and not a "rig" because it was not actively drilling at the time of the explosion.

Mariner Energy's website states that they are involved in deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, including "higher-risk, high-impact projects that have the potential to create substantial value for our stockholders". They claim to hold more than 1,000 potential drilling locations and are focused on infill drilling and exploration.

Shortly after noon, central time, a spokesman for Mariner Energy told Ali Velshi of CNN that there were no injuries at all so it is curious whether or not Mariner Energy will take the same PR role as BP to paint a rosy picture after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. It is too early, at this time, to know exactly what happened on the platform but Mariner claims there was a fire instead of an explosion.

Conspiracy theorists have already started on the idiotic idea that either environmental extremist, terrorist or even BP have somehow caused this incident. The idea that BP would cause damage to another platform to cause another company to help pay for the damages from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe goes beyond stupidity.

America needs to take a deep breath and show a little restraint. We may have a problem due to our dependence on oil but we do not know exactly what has happened to the Vermilion platform yet. If it turns out that negligence is the cause of this incident, everyone will wonder why the moratorium was lifted without inspecting every platform/rig in the Gulf. If the damaged platform does present an oil leak we will have more of an environmental disaster to clean up. There are many ways our economy could be set back, yet again.

Americans want their cheap oil. The bigger picture is whether the price we have to pay is worth it. Many workers in the oil industry need their jobs and some get angry over the thought of losing their job over precautionary action. It may be a necessary evil to have higher oil prices to force America to find alternative energy.

BP decided to cut corners and shoot for a bigger profit margin by risking the safety of it's employees and the Deepwater Horizon rig. If it turns out that Mariner Energy did the same in order to appease shareholders it will mean that the corporate outlook has not only halted our economy through corruption but has no qualms about destroying our planet as well.

Ask yourselves...is the price we pay at the pump worth the cost to our future?