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1 Dead, 3 Injured in Explosion on Gulf Platform

An explosion has occurred on an offshore oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico, killing one person and injuring three.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Fieldwood Energy reported the explosion on its Echo Platform just before 3 p.m. Thursday about 12 miles off Louisiana's coast.

Houston-based Fieldwood Energy LLC said the worker who was killed Thursday was cleaning a piece of equipment that separates oil from water liquids when an "isolated pressure event" occurred. The victim was employed by the Louisiana company Turnkey Cleaning Services, which specializes in cleaning offshore facilities.

The bureau said in a statement that the platform was not in production at the time of the explosion and damage was limited to the area. The statement said there was no indication that any oil had spilled into the ocean.

Fieldwood said a worker suffered "visible injury" and two other workers reported ringing in their ears. The three injured workers have been released from the hospital.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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