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Content:
Cheryl Anderson
Pagemasters:
OMM Web Team
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Pacific
Region
Spills ≥ 50 Barrels
(2,100 gallons)
– 1969
January 28, 1969 - Union Oil Company of California
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Pollution: |
80,000 bbl Crude Oil |
Operation: |
Drilling |
|
Platform: |
Platform A
Well A-21 |
Lease: |
P00241 |
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Area: Block: |
6B (Santa Barbara Channel)
5165 |
Cause: |
Equipment Failure |
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Distance to Shore: |
6 Miles |
Water
Depth: |
190 Feet |
Remarks:
Drilling of the
A-21 well began on January 14th and continued through the morning of
January 28th. At 10:45 a.m. the well blew out releasing oil and gas.
Approximately 50,000 bbl were lost the first 10 days during the
blowout phase. The well was killed by pumping drilling mud into the
casing annulus. The well was then plugged with cement. A relief well
was drilling to 1,990 feet and was subsequently plugged and
abandoned when the flow from Well No. A-21 was stopped. Considerable
volumes of oil washed up on the beaches and almost 4,000 birds were
killed. The estimated spill volume of 80,000 bbl includes the
initial 50,000 bbl plus subsequent seepage. Approximately one third
of the seepage occurred during the first four years, with the
remaining seepage volume reflecting a decreasing seepage rate over
the following decades.
County of Santa Barbara Report:
Report
December 16,
1969 - Union Oil Company of California
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Pollution: |
900 bbl Crude Oil |
Operation: |
Production |
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Pipeline: |
Platform A's Pipeline |
Lease: |
P00241 |
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Area: Block: |
6B (Santa Barbara Channel)
5165 |
Cause: |
Equipment Failure |
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Distance to Shore: |
6 Miles |
Water
Depth: |
190 Feet |
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Pipeline Segment |
810241 |
Pipeline Diameter |
12.75 inches |
Remarks:
The spill occurred on December 16, 1969, as
the result of a crack in the 12.75 inch oil pipeline riser at
Platform A on Lease OCS-P 0241 in the Santa Barbara Channel, CA.
Upon discovery of the break the pipeline was immediately taken out
of service and all the wells on Platforms A and B were shut in. The
repair of the pipeline riser was completed by December 20, 1969 and
the shut-in wells were placed back on production. The nature of the
crack causing the break in the pipeline riser shows that the failure
resulted from mechanical fatigue and corrosion was not involved.
Stresses that caused the fatigue were most likely introduced by the
resonance between the oil pump and the 30-ft unsupported length of
pipeline riser and possible additional stresses due to wave action.
Based on available information, the Pacific OCS Region concluded
that the total oil spilled amounted to 900 bbl. Of this amount, 400
bbl were attributed to the original pipeline riser leak, 300 bbl
lost during the re-installation of the pipeline riser and 200 bbl
due to increased seepage during the period when the wells were shut
in. No environmental damage from the spill was reported.
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Last Updated:
07/09/08,
08:50 AM
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