April 24th, 2010
07:25 PM ET

Oil leaking from site of sunken rig, Coast Guard says

Oil began leaking Saturday from the site of an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Initial reports indicate "there are breaks in the line" where the Deepwater Horizon was drilling when it exploded Tuesday night, Coast Guard Petty Officer Erik Swanson said.

Oil is leaking at a rate of 1,000 barrels a day, he said.

The leak reported Saturday is separate from a 1-by-12 mile slick generated after the disabled rig sank Thursday.

Rescuers on Friday suspended the search for the 11 people missing in the explosion, the Coast Guard said.

The rig - a mobile unit that moves to different locations in the Gulf of Mexico - was about 52 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana, when the explosion occurred Tuesday night.

The rig had been drilling for oil in its current location since January, said Eileen Angelico, a spokeswoman for Minerals Management Service.

- CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report.

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Filed under: Environment • U.S.
soundoff (96 Responses)
  1. nalra

    That's what happens when you drill for oil. Now imagine this happening in the Arctic. Nobody would be able to clean it up.

    April 24, 2010 at 11:54 pm | Report abuse |
  2. amanda

    Still they want to drill off the coast of Florida and I am a Floridian and I say "NO WAY" . No matter what they say they cannot promise the safety of our coasts and the marine life. We need to get off of oil ASAP, this the worst thing for mankind.

    April 25, 2010 at 1:37 am | Report abuse |
  3. GOP Voice

    Perfect coincidence, don't you think?

    April 25, 2010 at 2:13 am | Report abuse |
  4. txcrude

    The wellhead/BOP (blow-out-preventer) on the seafloor should have closed the well in case of an emergency. I haven ot seen any reports yet from the ROV (remote operated vehicle) to confirm the well is actually leaking. An earlier report said this was a cased well. Unless they were almost done and had already perforated it and oil was flowing, there should not be that much oil. Perhaps this was an existing well that was being worked over.

    April 25, 2010 at 2:26 am | Report abuse |
  5. Edwin

    This could turn into a very bad environmental disaster.

    April 25, 2010 at 3:23 am | Report abuse |
  6. Rick

    It amazes me that we sacrifice the things we need most (environment) for things we need least (oil). When are we going to stop underestimating our ability to have fossil fuel free transportation? All the people who have suppressed the advancement of alternative exploration should have be locked up.

    April 25, 2010 at 7:55 am | Report abuse |
  7. Todd S.

    Boy, I can't wait until we get to have fun oil slicks like these washing up on our beautiful east coast! Spill, baby, spill!

    April 25, 2010 at 8:01 am | Report abuse |
  8. Anna Ferrell

    So what is the G8 saying about this? I know this is bad, but I want to know how much trouble we are in with the whole world about this.

    April 25, 2010 at 8:08 am | Report abuse |
  9. FL Gulf Coast Resident

    Americans demand the right to have oil leaking from damaged rigs up to five miles off shore. This rig is in no way close enough. Come on guys, you can do better!

    April 25, 2010 at 8:23 am | Report abuse |
  10. Kapalua

    I sincerely hope Obama wakes up and rethinks the idea of off shore oil drilling. I truly believe the oil rig accident is some sort of sign or karma or whatever "spiritual" symbol to warn us about the environmental impact off shore drilling will have. Although the coast guard is making efforts to control oil, it truly cannot be controlled. For those who do not know, but once oil gets into water it spreads at an incredible rate and the environmental devastation is enormous.
    So Obama...ALOHA... there is a reason why off shore drilling has not expanded and or has been stopped for 20 plus years. Do you truly want to destroy the beautiful American beaches our children play? So why not use the millions if not billions of dollars that is going to used on off shore drilling and spend it on finding alternative fuels to reduce our dependency on oil that you had promised to do in your campaign. By the way with this new off shore drilling plan, it basically tells me that you have forgotten your Hawaiian culture – Ka Pono..... Sad you have forgotten our sacred Hawaiian culture. You lost my vote.

    April 25, 2010 at 8:24 am | Report abuse |
  11. JackT

    WHY is BP (British Petroleum), a foreign company, drilling for oil in United States waters? Did ExxonMobil run out of drill bits?

    April 25, 2010 at 8:32 am | Report abuse |
  12. Frank

    Drill Baby Drill!!
    How about conservation and alternative fuels first. No expanded drilling off the coasts and none in ANWR.

    April 25, 2010 at 8:37 am | Report abuse |
  13. Joe P.

    They made a valiant effort to keep this on the down low, but its coming out – Thanks CNN for not being in these guys pockets like that Coast Guard admiral.

    April 25, 2010 at 9:42 am | Report abuse |
  14. Kevin

    I'd like some news on how they plan yo contain the leak and clean up the mess. I bet Obama's feeling good about his decision to open more off-shore drilling now.

    April 25, 2010 at 9:55 am | Report abuse |
  15. Barrett

    How deep was the well?

    April 25, 2010 at 10:17 am | Report abuse |
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