There are reports that an oil rig has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the April blast that caused the massive oil spill.

The US Coast Guard says rescue choppers have been sent from New Orleans and Houston.

The oil rig is about 80 miles south of Vermillion Bay along the central Louisiana coast.

So far only one person is said to be missing and the other 12 crew members have been accounted for.

This comes as BP announces that they have begun removing the cap from the Gulf well, the first of several steps in advance of securing the leak for good.

The cap has shut off all oil flow from the leak since July 15.