Mystery Release, South Timbalier 23; Gulf of Mexico, LA
NOAA initial notification: “On Sunday Evening, 11 Jan. 2009, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a mystery sheen and bubbling source or release in the Gulf of Mexico off South Louisiana. The USCG as requested a trajectory analysis. The suspected source may be a leaking pipeline.”[1]
Latest included source report
Posted 19 Jan 2009
Latest source report
“The USCG reported that the pipeline had been identified and shut in. There was no additional support requested by the USCG, and there was no additional follow up information provided. This entry constitutes the Final Report for this incident. NOAA’s support role was limited to remote trajectory support.” Current outcome is not independently verified by seahazards.[3]
NOAA report chronology
3 dated source records · 11 Jan 2009 to 19 Jan 2009NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On Sunday Evening, 11 Jan. 2009, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a mystery sheen and bubbling source or release in the Gulf of Mexico off South Louisiana. The USCG as requested a trajectory analysis. The suspected source may be a leaking pipeline.”
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 3: 11 Jan 2009. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track
NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On Sunday Evening, 11 Jan. 2009, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a mystery sheen and bubbling source or release in the Gulf of Mexico off South Louisiana. The USCG as requested a trajectory analysis. The suspected source may be a leaking pipeline.”
NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (29.065°, -90.083°)
Initial Report
Source report excerpt: “On Sunday Evening, 11 Jan. 2009, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a mystery sheen and bubbling source or release in the Gulf of Mexico off South Louisiana. The incident was observed by a USCG helicopter overflight and the sheen was reported only as light. The position reported was 29° 03’ 55” N Lat. 090° 05’ 00” W Long. This position places the unknown source approximately 5 miles off Fourchon Beach. USCG Marine Safety Unit Morgan City is attempting to identify the owner of this suspected pipeline release. At the USCGs request, NOAA provided an initial trajectory analysis and weather forecast.”
Final Report
Source report excerpt: “The USCG reported that the pipeline had been identified and shut in. There was no additional support requested by the USCG, and there was no additional follow up information provided. This entry constitutes the Final Report for this incident. NOAA’s support role was limited to remote trajectory support.”
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Details in the record
- Source record
- NOAA IncidentNews 7947[1]
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NOAAORR-7947 NOAA response record
Mystery Release, South Timbalier 23; Gulf of Mexico, LA. Gulf of Mexico, LA. 1. On Sunday Evening, 11 Jan. 2009, the regional NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator was notified of a mystery sheen and bubbling source or release in the Gulf of Mexico off South Louisiana. The USCG as requested a trajectory analysis. The suspected source may be a leaking pipeline. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: SUSPECTED TO BE CONDENSATE CRUDE OIL AND GAS. 3. POSITION 29.065N 090.083W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7947: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7947Open record and warning history →
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