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. denis dé

    They shoudl have let it burn instead of watering and flooding it till capsizing and sinking; at least till realizing the safety valve was broken and it cannot close or clamp the pipe, like we did in Koweit. Black smoke and gas for months from the fire rig can't be worst than what the HijafJallaJokul volcano did in Iceland. Does anybody know if the broken pipe has been identified and located or if the bore is leaking from the sea bed? Is it still attached to the sunken sea rig? We have to go and tap it or connect it to another pipe the sooner the better. Conclusion for next time: Tap it and make it leakproof while it is burning and the pipe is still attached to the rig and cooled by the sea water. Dr Denis

    May 1, 2010 at 1:01 pm | Report abuse |
  2. randy

    are u idiots, spill baby spill, u should burn in hell too for saying that

    May 3, 2010 at 12:51 am | Report abuse |
  3. randy

    I would like too say that only morrons get a kick out of people dying on that oil rig disaster. Jay [april 24]number 30 .and CNN should be ashame of printing your commments

    May 3, 2010 at 1:02 am | Report abuse |
  4. MR. LEVITE

    I HAVE A SHORE PLAN TO CLOSE THE OIL LEAK IN THE GULF.
    PLEASE CALL ME AT 860-589=6716 AND CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL

    VERY SIMPLE

    May 20, 2010 at 7:41 pm | Report abuse |
    • MR. LEVITE

      MR. LEVITE

      I HAVE A SHORE PLAN TO CLOSE THE OIL LEAK IN THE GULF.
      PLEASE CALL ME AT 860-589=6716 AND CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL

      VERY SIMPLE

      May 20, 2010 at 7:44 pm | Report abuse |
  5. MR. LEVITE

    I HAVE ALREADY INCLUDED MY NAME

    May 20, 2010 at 7:43 pm | Report abuse |
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