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The
NewsRoom
Release: #3203
Date: November 18, 2004
MMS to Investigate Gas Release on Platform
Gail
At approximately 10:00 a.m. PST on
November 18 the Minerals Management Service was notified of a natural
gas leak from a single well on Venoco, Inc.’s Platform Gail, located
9.9 miles offshore Ventura County, California. All oil and gas
production on Platform Gail was immediately shut-in and all
non-essential personnel were evacuated. There have been no reports of
injuries or significant water pollution.
The MMS immediately established
contact with Venoco and the U.S. Coast Guard and began to closely
monitor the situation for potential hazards. MMS’s emergency response
coordinator was dispatched to the Incident Command Center in
Carpinteria, California.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. PST
the MMS was notified by Venoco that the well was plugged and the leak
stopped.
As soon as possible, MMS
inspectors will board the facility and begin a full investigation into
today’s natural gas leak.
The MMS stands committed to ensure
the safety of offshore personnel and protection of the marine
environment.
The Minerals Management Service
is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that
manages the nation’s oil, natural gas, and other mineral resources on
the Outer Continental Shelf in Federal offshore waters. The agency
also collects, accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from
Federal and American Indian lands. MMS disbursed more than $8
billion in FY 2003 and more than $143 billion since the agency was
created in 1982. Nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the
Land and Water Conservation Fund annually for the acquisition and
development of state and Federal park and recreation lands.
Relevant Web Sites:
MMS Main Website
Gulf of Mexico Website
Media Contacts:
John Romero (805) 389-7533
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for
America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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