Rescue: Platform crew jumped in water

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - A Louisiana offshore rig caught fire Thursday morning. The platform is owned by Houston based Mariner Energy and is just west of BP's massive spill. The fire was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the site.

The Coast Guard said all 13 people on board the platform were rescued. The crew was brought to shore in a supply vessel called Crystal Clear. It is still unclear though what caused this explosion and fire at a time when the offshore oil industry is under an incredible amount of scrutiny.

A familiar, frightening sight in the Gulf of Mexico smoke, from a burning rig.

"This is, I'm told this is a production platform about 100 miles off the coast. I am told the depth of water is about 340 feet, so this is not a deep water facility," said Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary.

In that respect, this incident was not like the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded in April, killing 11 men. That explosion led to a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

This time everyone survived, waiting in the water in survival outfits called gumby suits.

Early Thursday afternoon, the Coast Guard reported a sheen on the water near the explosion site, but later backed off that information.

"This wasn't a blowout, it doesn't appear to be a spill, there don't appear to be any injuries," said Mariner Energy spokesperson Patrick Cassidy.

Once the fire broke out, production on the platform was shut down.