Six days after an oil spill began at a well site in the Pass a Loutre area of the Mississippi Delta, the Coast Guard has federalized the response and activated the Oil Pollution Liability Trust Fund. As of Thursday, the well remains uncontrolled, continuing to emit an orange-brown oil mist into the surrounding waters.
The spill originated near the Garden Island Bay Production Facility, prompting a coordinated response from operator Spectrum OpCo LLC, the Coast Guard, and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office. A well control contractor is on-site, and additional equipment, including cutting tools and a capping stack, is being mobilized to halt the flow.
To date, contractors have collected approximately 33,000 gallons of oily water, supported by 180 personnel and 12 skimming vessels. About 12,000 feet of containment boom has been deployed, with more available if needed. Fortunately, there have been no injuries or wildlife impacts reported, and the spill is far from major shipping lanes, allowing deep-draft marine traffic to continue unaffected.
The well, which had been decommissioned for 10 years, experienced a sudden failure, with the cause still under investigation. A one-mile safety zone remains in effect around the spill site.
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