The Coast Guard continues to search the Gulf of Mexico for 11 people missing from Tuesday's explosion in an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. The rig has recently sunk, creating a large oil slick of crude oil and diesel fuel.

While hope remains that the 11 workers on the rig were able to make it to life boats, company officials are skeptical. Vice president of rig owner Transocean, Ltd., Adrian Rose said that it was unlikely that anyone survived.

{dybanners}12{/dybanners}

"Based upon our reports from crew workers we met as they came in last night, they believe that they [the missing workers] may have been on board the rig and not able to evacuate. We have not confirmed that yet," he said.

The Coast Guard was more optimistic, telling local and national media, that  the rig's fully enclosed, fire-resistant lifeboats, combined with warm and calm ocean conditions made for an increased likelihood for survival.

"We're still searching, and there's still a probability that those crew members are alive," Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Mike O'Berry told CNN.

Of the 115 workers that have been accounted for, 17 were treated for injuries, with the remaining 94 making it to shore with no major medical problems.