September 2, 2010

Breaking: Another Gulf Oil Platform Explodes

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Follow Kate Sheppard, Mac McClelland, and Julia Whitty on Twitter for the latest updates on the explosion.

Another oil platform has exploded in the Gulf, and details are still coming in about today’s explosion. Firefighters are battling the blaze on the platform, and there are reports of a mile-long oil sheen extending from the site. As the Houston Chronicle reports, platform owner Mariner Energy has been involved in 13 accidents in the Gulf since 2006.

Stay tuned, we’ll have more details on today’s explosion as they come in.

Perhaps it’s a good time for a reminder of just how many pipelines (33,000 miles), wells (50,000), platforms and rigs (thousands of abandoned ones alone) are out there in the Gulf, each with its own potential for disaster. And did we mention it’s hurricane season?

Here’s what it looks like out there, from our September/October issue:Click for larger versionClick here for a larger version.

Special Report: Check out our in-depth investigation of BP’s crimes in the Gulf, “BP’s Deep Secrets.”

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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