Natural gas well fire in Gulf of Mexico now out

The fire is out at a natural gas well in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast that blew wild earlier in the week, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and a spokesman for one of the companies involved.

Natural gas stopped flowing from the well earlier Thursday, and the remaining fire had been fuelled by residual gas.

Authorities believe the flowing gas became blocked by sand and sediment in the well.

The fire was out at midday, officials said.

Air and water travel restrictions remain in effect in the area, and officials are working to determine the next steps in securing the well.

Earlier Thursday, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) had said in a news release that the well had "bridged over," with the line blocked by sand and sediment that filled in the area being drilled.

"The fire has decreased to a small flame fuelled by residual gas at the top of the well," the statement said.

It said both BSEE and the U.S. Coast Guard had flown over the well to check this and would oversee work until the well is secure.

The well blew out Tuesday and caught fire late Tuesday night, collapsing part of the 30-year-old jackup rig.

Because the well involved is a natural gas well, not an oil well, experts said the pollution threats are far less than those posed by some previous accidents.

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Federal inspectors had said a light sheen was spotted around the rig Wednesday evening but like one spotted shortly after the blowout began Tuesdayit quickly dissipated.

Gas wells often also have oil or other hydrocarbons as well as natural gas. Officials and scientists agree the latest mishap should not be nearly as damaging as the BP oil spill, also in the Gulf of Mexico, that sent crude oil oozing ashore in 2010.

Cause of blowout under investigation

Tuesday's blowout, which prompted the safe evacuation of 44 workers, occurred at a drilling rig adjacent to a natural gas platform that wasn't producing gas at the time. The rig was completing a "sidetrack well," which drills into the same well hole under the platform. Such wells are used to remedy an obstruction or to access a different part of the gas reserve.

Gas spewed throughout the day and ignited late Tuesday night. The cause of the blowout was under investigation, one being overseen by the BSEE.

By Wednesday evening, the derrick and drill floor structure had collapsed. A fireboat was pumping water on the rig in an effort to keep as much of it as cool as possible.

The coast guard maintained traffic restrictions within 500 metres of the site and the Federal Aviation Administration restricted aircraft up to 2,000 feet over the area.

University of Georgia marine scientist Samantha (Mandy) Joye said the accident, the second blowout off the Louisiana coast this month, raises concerns about whether more regulation is needed.

"I believe that BSEE is taking rig safety very seriously, but more active rigs give rise to more opportunity for problems. Accidents can happen," she said.

Environmentalists in Louisiana said the accident proves the need for strong oversight of offshore operations.

Darryl Maleck-Wiley of the Sierra Club said, "Once again this is highlighting the dangerous nature of oil and gas operations in the Gulf and that we need aggressive inspection programs of these operations by the federal government."