1 dead, 3 hurt in oil platform explosion off La. coast

NEW ORLEANS — One person is dead and three people are injured after an oil platform explosion 12 miles off the coast of New Orleans, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

The platform was not in production at the time of the explosion. Officials say no pollution was reported.

The platform is operated by Houston-based Fieldwood Energy, which reported the explosion of its Echo Platform, West Delta 105, just before 3 p.m., according to the BSEE.

The three injured are being treated at an offshore medical facility. One person, who hasn't been identified, died in the explosion, BSEE officials say.

Fieldwood Energy released this statement:

"At Fieldwood Energy, our top priority is the safety of our employees and contractors. This incident just occurred, so we do not have many details at this point. The incident occurred at the West Delta 105 "E" facility, which is located offshore Louisiana. One employee of a contractor was fatally injured and a second contractor employee was seriously injured. We have accounted for all other personnel who were working at the facility. This was an isolated incident that has been fully contained. The facility was not damaged and there was no pollution that resulted from the incident. We currently are working hand-in-hand with emergency response personnel and will provide further updates once we learn additional information. In the interim, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured contractor employees."