Spills · oil
La, gulf of mexico, USA
Orphan Well Head Leak; La, Gulf of Mexico, USA · NOAAORR-10078
- issued
- 2020-04-26 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 2020-05-10 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 2020-05-10 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 29.448, -91.604
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Orphan Well Head Leak; LA, Gulf of Mexico, USA. LA, Gulf of Mexico, USA. 1. Apr 24 and Apr 25 2020 NOAA NESDIS identified an anomaly south east of Marsh Island, LA (NRC Reports 1276036, 1276099, 1276102). The anomaly ranged from 2 to 14 nm in length. Apr 26 2020 USCG Houma confirmed presence of a sheen and identified the source as a pin hole leak in the riser of a well head. USCG determined the sheen to be non recoverable oil. No impact to shoreline reported. USCG plans to clamp the line on Apr 27. USCG requested a trajectory in the unlikely event of a large release of oil during operations. 2. THREAT: OIL. 3. POSITION 29.448N 091.604W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10078: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10078
This area · spills & pollution incidents
1296 within 180 nm since 1970 · 42 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
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- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisiana2026-08-26
- Intermittent oil sheen; flower garden banks national marine sanctuary, bright bank2026-08-25
- Mystery sheen at south pass 29; port eads, louisiana2026-08-13
- Release of aluminum phosphide in M/V thorco liva; port arthur, texas2026-07-28
- Mystery oiled shoreline at holly beach; cameron parish, louisiana2026-07-10
- Johnson bayou, la2026-06-17
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Nearby now · within 120 nm
Worldwide now
8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all
Spills
Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →
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