Offshore staff

MEXICO CITY –Pemex reports that a drilling rig ran into a fixed platform offshore Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in stormy seas, and the number of fatalities stands at 18 with others missing. More than 60 workers were rescued. The resulting oil and gas leak is expected to take at least three days to cap.

The drilling rig was next to the platform to begin a new well when the 80 mph (130 kph) winds and 26-foot (8-m) waves pushed the rig into the platform.

10/24/2007