Multiple injuries after Belle Isle gas well ignites

The same Belle Isle natural gas well where a blowout occurred Sunday ignited Tuesday afternoon, injuring at least four people.

Some of the injured came to Morgan City for treatment. The injured are reported to have sustained burns to their hands and faces, said Patrick Courreges, a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. The DNR regulates in-state energy production.

The Morgan City police and fire departments were among the agencies responding to Tuesday's incident in Wax Bayou at Belle Isle.

The Sunday blowout occurred as the Texas Petroleum Investment Co. well was being sealed. No injuries were reported Sunday.

Houston-based Wild Well Control was continuing the work of sealing the well Tuesday afternoon, when natural gas at the site ignited,

There was no immediate word on what caused the gas to ignite Tuesday.

The Louisiana State Police is charge of the incident response at the site, Courreges said.

Texas Petroleum Investment Co. spokesman David Margulies forwarded this statement from the company;

"Contractors working to cap a well in the Belle Isle Field were injured when a spark ignited natural gas. The incident began on Sunday while workers were attempting to plug the abandoned well. The gas flow at the well has stopped and the fire is out. The workers are receiving medical treatment and crews are on the scene to protect the environment and bring the well under control."

Margulies said he didn't have an exact count of the number of injured.

Ochsner St. Mary spokeswoman Sabrina Williams said three people arrived in their own vehicles at the Morgan City hospital's Emergency Department.

Williams forwarded a statement from the hospital.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by today’s event. As medical professionals, caring for our communities is our sole focus. Ochsner has provided emergency response support for patients involved in this incident and are currently treating three patients who are listed in stable condition. In compliance with federal patient privacy regulations and out of respect for patients and their families, we are unable to make any comments regarding the care of any of our patients."

The Acadian Ambulance Twitter account says it dispatched four helicopters and five ground units to the scene. It transported two people by air and two by ground vehicle.

Reports say some of the injured were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.