Sheen seen near burned rig, not thought leak - USCG

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Sunday September 05, 2010 01:15:18 AM GMT

HOUSTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted a light oil sheen near the damaged Mariner Energy <ME.N> platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, but it was not believed to be a leak, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

"The residual sheen, about 100 yards (91 metres) long and 10 yards wide -- it'd be about a gallon -- is believed to be runoff from the firefighting effort," Coast Guard spokesman Steve Lehmann said.

Investigators boarded the rig Friday and were checking to confirm there is no leak of oil from a well, Lehmann said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols)

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