Mystery Slick; GOM, Off Belle Pass, LA
NOAA initial notification: “On Thursday evening, 8 Jan. 2009, NOAA was notified of a mystery slick some 5 miles off Belle Pass, LA in the Gulf of Mexico by USCG Sector Morgan City. The observed source is thought to be a leaking pipeline since gas bubbling was observed at the source.”[1]
Latest included source report
Posted 19 Jan 2009
Latest source report
“When asked about this case, the USCG reported that the pipeline source had been identified and shut for repair. There was no additional support requested by the USCG. 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 · 8 Jan 2009 to 19 Jan 2009NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On Thursday evening, 8 Jan. 2009, NOAA was notified of a mystery slick some 5 miles off Belle Pass, LA in the Gulf of Mexico by USCG Sector Morgan City. The observed source is thought to be a leaking pipeline since gas bubbling was observed at the source.”
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: 8 Jan 2009. NOAA incident record opened. NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track
NOAA incident record opened
Initial notification excerpt: “On Thursday evening, 8 Jan. 2009, NOAA was notified of a mystery slick some 5 miles off Belle Pass, LA in the Gulf of Mexico by USCG Sector Morgan City. The observed source is thought to be a leaking pipeline since gas bubbling was observed at the source.”
NOAA approximate incident area; not a vessel track (29.020°, -90.171°)
Initial Report
Source report excerpt: “On Thursday evening, 8 Jan. 2009, NOAA was notified of a mystery slick some 5 miles off Belle Pass, LA in the Gulf of Mexico by USCG Sector Morgan City. The observed source is thought to be a leaking pipeline since gas bubbling was observed at the source. The reported position at 29° 01’ 13” N Lat. 090° 10’ 14” W Long. A 4-mile x 30-foot long light and barely visible sheen was observed heading offshore toward the SE. Onshore winds are expected on Friday with an increase in intensity: this pollution source and slick, not expected to be a significant near-coast or shoreline threat (if the release rate remains the same or less). For additional information, see report.”
Final Report
Source report excerpt: “When asked about this case, the USCG reported that the pipeline source had been identified and shut for repair. There was no additional support requested by the USCG. 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 7946[1]
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NOAAORR-7946 NOAA response record
Mystery Slick; GOM, Off Belle Pass, LA. GOM, Off Belle Pass, LA. 1. On Thursday evening, 8 Jan. 2009, NOAA was notified of a mystery slick some 5 miles off Belle Pass, LA in the Gulf of Mexico by USCG Sector Morgan City. The observed source is thought to be a leaking pipeline since gas bubbling was observed at the source. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: SUSPECTED TO BE CONDENSATE CRUDE OIL. 3. POSITION 29.020N 090.171W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7946: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7946Open record and warning history →
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