A natural gas well off the coast of Louisiana caught experienced a blowout late Tuesday, causing gas to leak into the Gulf of Mexico and catch fire, according to news reports.
The Associated Press reports that the well, located about 55 miles offshore, caught fire after 44 workers evacuated the site. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the leak and fire were considered too unsafe to approach Tuesday night.
The cause of the leak has not been determined, but it occurred as workers were completing a sidetrack well.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that officials are monitoring the leak due to its proximity to Louisiana's Grand Isle, the site of a rodeo that is expected to draw some 15,000 fishers and tourists starting Thursday.
Local government officials stressed that the leak won't be as damaging to the ecosystem as the infamous BP oil spill that occurred in 2010. The rig is owned by a company called Hercules Offshore and operated by Walter Oil & Gas Corp, both of Houston.
Natural Gas Well Catches Fire In The Gulf Of Mexico