Mystery Sheen, off Timbalier Bay; GOM, Louisiana Coast
NOAA initial notification: “At 0725 hrs (local time) on 11 Oct. 2008, a 5 mile long slick composed of silver sheen was observed approximately 7 miles south of Timbalier Bay off the coast of Louisiana. The slick was reported at position 28° 56.73’ N Lat. 090° 21.95’ W Long. and being some 100 yards wide […]”[1]
Latest included source report
Posted 3 Nov 2008
Latest source report
“There was no additional information provided or scientific support requested related to this event; therefore, this entry will serve as the final report unless it is learned that there was appreciable injury or any other new information that would reopen this response hotline. Long sentence that simply means: case closed due to lack of any new information.” Current outcome is not independently verified by seahazards.[3]
NOAA report chronology
3 dated source records · 11 Oct 2008 to 3 Nov 2008NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “At 0725 hrs (local time) on 11 Oct. 2008, a 5 mile long slick composed of silver sheen was observed approximately 7 miles south of Timbalier Bay off the coast of Louisiana. The slick was reported at position 28° 56.73’ N Lat. 090° 21.95’ W Long. and being some 100 yards wide with continuous coverage. It is not know if the reported position is the leading edge or a central point for reference. The observer reported to the NRC that the estimated volume was 28.4 gallons (we assume this was based on a sheen calculation).”
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 Oct 2008. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track
NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “At 0725 hrs (local time) on 11 Oct. 2008, a 5 mile long slick composed of silver sheen was observed approximately 7 miles south of Timbalier Bay off the coast of Louisiana. The slick was reported at position 28° 56.73’ N Lat. 090° 21.95’ W Long. and being some 100 yards wide with continuous coverage. It is not know if the reported position is the leading edge or a central point for reference. The observer reported to the NRC that the estimated volume was 28.4 gallons (we assume this was based on a sheen calculation).”
NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (28.945°, -90.366°)
Summary Report and Initial Traj Analysis
Source report excerpt: “Reported Information: At 0725 hrs (local time) on 11 Oct. 2008, a 5 mile long slick composed of silver sheen was observed approximately 7 miles south of Timbalier Bay off the coast of Louisiana. The slick was reported at position 28° 56.73’ N Lat. 090° 21.95’ W Long. and being some 100 yards wide with continuous coverage. It is not know if the reported position is the leading edge or a central point for reference. The observer reported to the NRC that the estimated volume was 28.4 gallons (we assume this was based on a sheen calculation). Initial Trajectory Analysis: The winds in the area have been shifting from the N to E at 10 to 15 knots, and the winds are expected to remain out of the E […]”
Final Report
Source report excerpt: “There was no additional information provided or scientific support requested related to this event; therefore, this entry will serve as the final report unless it is learned that there was appreciable injury or any other new information that would reopen this response hotline. Long sentence that simply means: case closed due to lack of any new information.”
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Details in the record
- Source record
- NOAA IncidentNews 7906[1]
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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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Related records in our archive
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NOAAORR-7906 NOAA response record
Mystery Sheen, off Timbalier Bay; GOM, Louisiana Coast. GOM, Louisiana Coast. 1. At 0725 hrs (local time) on 11 Oct. 2008, a 5 mile long slick composed of silver sheen was observed approximately 7 miles south of Timbalier Bay off the coast of Louisiana. The slick was reported at position 28° 56.73’ N Lat. 090° 21.95’ W Long. and being some 100 yards wide with continuous coverage. It is not know if the reported position is the leading edge or a central point for reference. The observer reported to the NRC that the estimated volume was 28.4 gallons (we assume this was based on a sheen calculation). 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: UNKNOWN OIL (SHEEN). MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 28 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 28.945N 090.366W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7906: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7906Open record and warning history →
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