The US Coast Guard is searching the Gulf of Mexico for a helicopter that disappeared on its way from Galveston to Transocean'sDiscoverer Spirit drillship 130 mi east of South Padre Island, Texas.

Ten people are onboard, including eight passengers and two crew members. The passengers included four employees of Halliburton, one from Dril-Quip, two from Offshore Energy Services, all contracted to Unocal; and one Unocal employee. The helicopter, operated by Era aviation of Lake Charles, LA, and under contract to Unocal, was transporting workers to the drill ship in Alaminos Canyon block 859.

The US Coast Guard's operation center in New Orleans is coordinating and overseeing the Coast Guard's search and rescue response to this incident. Helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft rescue crews from Coast Guard air stations in Corpus Christi and Houston, as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Manta, an 87-ft patrol boat from Freeport, are searching for the missing aircraft and crew.

A Coast Guard representative said searchers have spotted a mile-long oil slick 120 mi south of Galveston, and are concentrating the search on an area 35 mi by 80 mi near the oil slick.

03/24/04