Grand Bayou Blue Well Blowout; Near Galliano, LA
NOAA initial notification: “On the evening of 17 September 2008, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a well blowout in Grand Bayou Blue at 29° 28.011’ N Lat. 090° 22.901’ W Long. This position places the release approximately 10 miles NNW of Galliano Louisiana.”[1]
Latest included source report
Posted 6 Oct 2008
Latest source report
“On Monday, the USCG again had noticed some oil resurfacing, but later in the week (on 2 Oct.) was not observed that at all. The thinking is that what oil that was on the bottom for whatever reason (trapped with debris?) has come up. The cleanup site was moved to passive maintenance due to some oil trapped in the marsh and current low water conditions. LDEQ and LDWF didn't want […]” Current outcome is not independently verified by seahazards.[5]
NOAA report chronology
5 dated source records · 17 Sept 2008 to 6 Oct 2008NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On the evening of 17 September 2008, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a well blowout in Grand Bayou Blue at 29° 28.011’ N Lat. 090° 22.901’ W Long. This position places the release approximately 10 miles NNW of Galliano Louisiana.”
NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track
Initial incident area only. Dates are NOAA postings, not a vessel track. Playback advances every 5 seconds.
Milestone 1 of 5: 17 Sept 2008. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track
NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On the evening of 17 September 2008, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a well blowout in Grand Bayou Blue at 29° 28.011’ N Lat. 090° 22.901’ W Long. This position places the release approximately 10 miles NNW of Galliano Louisiana.”
NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (29.467°, -90.382°)
Initial Report and Initial Trajectory Analysis
Source report excerpt: “On the evening of 17 September 2008, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a well blowout in Grand Bayou Blue at 29° 28.011’ N Lat. 090° 22.901’ W Long. This position places the release approximately 10 miles NNW of Galliano Louisiana. The USCG reported that the incident was observed at 1700 hrs (local time). The owner/operator reported that the christmas tree and small platform were missing. The cause is unknown, but may have been an allision. The initial report was a 8-10 foot gusher of oil, but by 2200 hrs, the gush had decreased to on 2-3 feet in height (possible bridging in). The amount of oil released is unknown. An Oil Spill Response Organization […]”
Brief Overflight Report (LDEQ)
Source report excerpt: “"The boat launch is open and the path is clear to the scene. Not that bad. Source is contained with boom. Responders on scene and working. Oil drift is moving SW. Pics when I get back." The above is the updated brief from the State's overflight. Pictures will be posted when available. Observations on oil drift is in line with the trajectory submitted last night.”
Brief Update
Source report excerpt: “The source has been partially (mostly) controlled by divers securing an underwater valve, but some gas was reported to still be releasing. The current plan is to sting the well on Saturday to fully shut it in. The estimated release is 300 to 400 bbl of crude oil. The OSRO is continuing to secure the pockets of oil and recovery contamination. There is at least one open water skimmer still working in the area. NOAA will continue to provide remote assistance, but may go on scene to assist in any difficult cleanup issues. Such a reduced response posture is simply the balance of the potential impacts of this incident relative to the magnitude of activity post-Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Charlie […]”
Update and Final
Source report excerpt: “On Monday, the USCG again had noticed some oil resurfacing, but later in the week (on 2 Oct.) was not observed that at all. The thinking is that what oil that was on the bottom for whatever reason (trapped with debris?) has come up. The cleanup site was moved to passive maintenance due to some oil trapped in the marsh and current low water conditions. LDEQ and LDWF didn't want anybody going into the marsh, so a passive plan was initiated. Unless the situation changes, this entry will constitute the final report.”
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Details in the record
- Source record
- NOAA IncidentNews 7890[1]
Reading this account
Automatically assembled from NOAA's incident record and substantive Public Affairs or Situation Update posts. Dates are NOAA posting dates, which can differ from when events happened or original reports were published. Excerpts retain the source's wording and uncertainty. This account does not independently establish the cause, current outcome or safety of the area. NOAA coverage is selective; missing updates do not mean nothing happened. The map shows one approximate incident area, not a vessel track.
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Original sources
Timeline updated 1 Oct 2026. New reports and changes to this NOAA incident are incorporated automatically; this is not a live incident feed.
- 1.Grand Bayou Blue Well Blowout; Near Galliano, LA ↗NOAA Office of Response and Restoration · 17 Sept 2008
- 2.Initial Report and Initial Trajectory Analysis ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 18 Sept 2008
- 3.Brief Overflight Report (LDEQ) ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 18 Sept 2008
- 4.Brief Update ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 19 Sept 2008
- 5.Update and Final ↗NOAA IncidentNews · source report archive · 6 Oct 2008
Related records in our archive
Original source text, preserved separately from this account.
NOAAORR-7890 NOAA response record
Grand Bayou Blue Well Blowout; Near Galliano, LA. Near Galliano, LA. 1. On the evening of 17 September 2008, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) was notified of a well blowout in Grand Bayou Blue at 29° 28.011’ N Lat. 090° 22.901’ W Long. This position places the release approximately 10 miles NNW of Galliano Louisiana. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: CRUDE OIL. TAGS: WELLHEAD. 3. POSITION 29.467N 090.382W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7890: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7890Open record and warning history →
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