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Gulf of Mexico Region

Spills ≥ 50 Barrels (2,100 gallons)1979

January 30, 1979 - Amoco Production Company

Pollution: 321 bbl Diesel Operation: Drilling & Motor Vessel
Rig:

Platform:
Rig Zapata Concord (semisub)
Well 2
Lease: G03068
Area:
Block:
Mustang Island A111 Cause: Equipment Failure: transfer hose
Distance to Shore: 52 Miles Water Depth: 311 Feet
Other Events: Vessel Mishap

Remarks: EXPLORATION SPILL. While transferring fuel from the M/V "Northern Light" to the rig "Zapata Concord", the coupling between hose lengths separated. Response: shut off diesel transfer pump.


January 31, 1979 - Shell Offshore, Inc.

Pollution: 165 bbl Diesel Operation: Motor Vessel
Rig/Platform: Platform D Lease: N/A
Area:
Block:
West Delta 105 Cause: Weather Related
Distance to Shore: 35 Miles Water Depth: 228 Feet
Other Events: Vessel Mishap

Remarks: Supply boat M/V "Oceanus" sank near the platform with diesel on board.


April 14, 1979 - Shell Offshore, Inc.

Pollution: 60 bbl Crude Oil Operation: Production
Rig/Platform: Platform A Lease: G01039
Area:
Block:
Ship Shoal
274
Cause: Equipment Failure: liquid level control
Distance to Shore: 54 Miles Water Depth: 210 Feet

Remarks: An oil spill of approximately 60 bbl occurred due to a malfunction of the liquid level controller and a failure of the level safety low sensor on the flash separator. When the liquid level controller and the level safety low sensor failed, the gas blow-by from the flash separator flowed directly to the gun barrel. Turbulence created by the gas caused oil to carryover to the Wemco floatation cell through the gunbarrel water leg. Response: the platform was shut in manually.


July 15, 1979 - Shell Offshore, Inc.

Pollution: 50 bbl Crude Oil Operation: Pipeline & Motor Vessel
Rig:
Platform:
Lease: G01610
Area:
Block:
South Pass
65
Cause: External Damage: anchor
Distance to Shore: 9 Miles Water Depth: 300 Feet
Pipeline Segment: 03137 Pipeline Diameter: 8 Inches
Other Events: Vessel Mishap

Remarks: A submerged oil pipeline kinked and separated when a workboat was searching for a lost rig anchor. Response: replaced the damaged section of pipe.


November 23, 1979 - Texoma Production Company

Pollution: 1,500 bbl Diesel Operation: Drilling & Motor Vessel
Rig/Platform: Rig Pacesetter No. 3 (submersible/MODU) Lease: G02951
Area:
Block:
Main Pass
151
Cause: Weather Related & Collision: hurricane
Distance to Shore: 10 Miles Water Depth: 280 Feet
Other Events: Collision

Remarks: M/V "State Command" was picking up anchors and returned to rig with anchor along side. The stern on the portside of the boat hit the portside of rig knocking a hole 40" long and 7.5" wide on the forward end of the port hull. The propeller on the workboat knocked a hole in hull of semisubmersible rig (MODU) and damaged the diesel tank. The rig was deballasted up to its floating draft with the top of the hull 7' below water level.

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Last Updated: 10/19/09, 11:52 AM