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© AFP/Scanpix
A fireball bursting from the ocean's surface continued to burn on Wednesday after a tug and barge hit a gas pipeline owned by Chevron south of New Orleans on Tuesday evening.

The fire had been reduced by about 30% by Wednesday afternoon and there were no reports of oil in the water, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

"Visual imagery initially indicated potential pockets of crude oil," the statement said. "However, those areas have been determined to be particulate ash from" the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) burn off.

"The fire will diminish as the product diminishes," it added.

The pipeline was shut shortly after the collision at around 18:00 local time Tuesday evening near Bayou Perot 30 miles south of New Orleans.

Chevron said the line connects a gas plant in Venice, Louisiana, with a pump station in Paradis, according to a Reuters report.

Aside from the pipeline shutdown, the incident had no impact on Chevron's operations, as LPG was being re-routed around the damaged line, the news wire said.

"Responders continue to monitor and prepare salvage," the Coast Guard said.

About 2200 barrels of crude were on board the Settoon Towing-owned barge, which "has not been compromised", it said.

The were about 1000 gallons of diesel on the 47-foot tug Shanon E. Settoon.

The tug was reportedly pushing the barge in shallow water at the time of the collision.

All crew members were able to exit the tug, but the captain reportedly suffered second- to third-degree degree burns, the Coast Guard said.

About 40 Coast Guard personnel responded to the incident, using two sections of containment boom, two Marco skimmers, 10 response vessels and two oil spill response trailers.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.