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Gulf
of
Mexico Region Spills ≥ 50 Barrels (2,100 gallons) – 2001 January 12, 2001 – Shell Offshore, Inc.
Remarks: The M/V "Candy Express" was in the process of circulating drilling mud from one tank to another tank. A wrong valve was closed causing mud to enter the wrong tank and overfilling it. Approximately 119 barrels of 60%** Novaplus synthetic-based mud (SBM) were released overboard during a 15-20 minute period until the Engineer noticed the overflow and shut down all operations. It is estimated that the lost SBM contained approximately 71.4 barrels of synthetic base oil. NRC Report: 553390 January 28, 2001 – Amerada Hess Corporation
Remarks: A weld on a dump valve from a drain pit was cracked causing the release of 122 barrels of zinc bromide from the tank into the Gulf of Mexico. NRC Report: 555003 March 30, 2001 – Ocean Energy, Inc.
Remarks: Platform A is an unmanned facility, a pilot alerted MMS that pollution was taking place. MMS flew out to the facility and found oil being discharged out the flare boom and manually shut-in the platform. The Level Safety High (LSH) on the skimmer had failed to shut in the well in the test separator due to a problem with the panel logic. Approximately 127 barrels of crude oil were released through the flare before the platform was shut-in. The slick had dissipated by Saturday morning. NRC Report: 561269 June 28, 2001 – Mariner Energy Inc.
Remarks: While transferring fluid between pits on the drilling rig the dump valve was left open allowing the release of 429 bbl of zinc bromide. NRC Report: 571185 July 19, 2001 – Shell Offshore Inc.
Remarks: An underwater safety valve was being tested when a loss of pressure was discovered indicating a possible spill due to an unknown cause. This is on a sub-sea well complex. The estimated spill amount of 322 barrels is the maximum possible in the system B actual volume could not be determined. NRC Report: 573613 August 23, 2001 – Exxon Mobil Corporation
Remarks: The drilling rig "Jack Ryan" lost GPS system and back-up transponder unit went out which led to unintentional drive off. The first, second, and third navigational gyro computers used to maintain the ship's position malfunctioned and locked up at 0643 hours, 2250 hours, and 2315 hours respectively. After each malfunction, each monitor continued to display the same heading as before the failure occurred, allowing the ship to drift off location. When the personnel on duty observed a change of heading, an alarm was given, and a failed attempt was made to maneuver the ship back on location. At 2345 hours, an emergency disconnect was executed and the blind shear blowout preventer rams severed the drill string. There was no warning system to indicate when the gyro computers failed. Electrical noise apparently caused the electronic boards of the gyro computers to malfunction and lockup. The riser disconnect resulted in approximately 710 barrels of synthetic-based mud (SBM) drilling fluid being released into OCS offshore waters. It was estimated that the lost SBM contained 550 (500-600) bbl (approximately 77% of synthetic base oil. NRC Report: NONE August 30, 2001 – Texaco Inc.
Remarks: An ENSCO employee inadvertently manually opened the overboard drain line to the mud pit reserve storage tank releasing 170 barrels of 60%** Novaplus synthetic-based mud (SBM) into the Gulf of Mexico. It is estimated that the lost SBM contained approximately 102 barrels of synthetic base oil. NRC Report: 578331 December 7, 2001 – Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Remarks: The drilling rig Rowan Middletown, on Well #8, had drilled a hole, cemented the casing, and was in the process of displacing cement synthetic-based mud (SBM) from the M/V "Cate St. John". The M/V "Cate St. John" became full and was unable to take on any more mud. The rig continued to displace with mud until the rig mud tanks became full. Once the rig mud tanks became full, the only alternative was to dump 300 barrels of 50% SBM through a dump valve on the trip tank. It was reported that the lost SBM contained 150 barrels of synthetic base oil. NRC Report: 588273 December 23, 2001 – Aires Marine
Remarks: INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR ON LEASE. The offshore supply vessel Ram Charger was en route to Mississippi Canyon 401. There was a release of 450 barrels of 60%** synthetic-based mud when someone opened the wrong valve. It is estimated that the lost SBM contained approximately 270 barrels of synthetic base oil. NRC Report: 589425 THE SPILL BELOW IS A DRILLING MUD SPILL WHERE THE POLLUTION, SYNTHETIC BASE FLUID VOLUME, IS LESS THAN 50 BBL, BUT THE TOTAL MUD VOLUME WAS 50 BBL OR GREATER March 19, 2001 – Trico Marine
Remarks: LESS THAN 50 BBL POLLUTION (but total mud volume greater than 50 bbl). Valve was left open while the Ecoflow Synthetic-based mud (SBM) was being circulated on the offshore supply vessel Kings River. Spill reported from Rig Glomar Adriatic III at Platform A. It is estimated that the 100 bbl lost SBM contained approximately 30 barrels of synthetic paraffin base fluid. NRC Report: 559959 NOTE: Synthetic Oil Fluids*: In deepwater drilling, synthetic-based muds (SBM’s) are preferred over petroleum oil-based muds (OBM’s) due to the SBM's superior performance properties. The synthetic oils used in SBM’s are relatively non-toxic to the marine environment and have the potential to biodegrade. 60%**: Indicates that for a synthetic-based mud release, the exact percentage of the volume of synthetic base oil to the total volume of mud released was not available and 60% was used as a reasonable approximation. Privacy | Disclaimers | Accessibility | Topic Index | FOIA Last Updated: 06/24/08, 02:42 PM
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