Four other workers were air-lifted to a hospital in Jefferson Parish, said Kirk Trascher, a spokesman for Black Elk Energy. Trascher said it was unknown if any oil spilled into the Gulf.
The U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans also confirmed the fire early Friday morning, saying the rig was an oil-gas production platform.
Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts told WWL-TV the rig in question is a shallow water platform located in West Delta Block 32 in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard said the location is about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana.
The guard activated a "command center" to investigate the incident, and two helicopter teams -- one from Mobile, Alabama and the other from New Orleans -- were called in to help with the search. Two small boat stations out of Grand Isle and Venice were also sent to the scene.