Spills · oil

Mystery sheens main pass 81; gulf of mexico

NOAAORR-10892

issued: 2024-12-10 00:00Z
status: cancelled 2024-12-24 00:00Z
self-cancels: 2024-12-24 00:00Z
authority: NOAA OR&R
sea: Gulf of Mexico
position: 29.252, -89.084
source: incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Sheens Main Pass 81; Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico.
1. On December 10, 2024, NOAA received reports of mystery sheens in Main Pass 81 and several miles to the east, south of the Chandeleur Islands. The largest sheen observation was 34 miles in length. Related NRC reports: #1418539 and #1418404. NOAA provided trajectory and assistance identifying possible sources.
2. THREAT: OIL.
3. POSITION 29.252N 089.084W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10892: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10892

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1005 within 180 nm since 1970 · 34 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisiana2026-08-26
8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USA2026-08-24
Mystery sheen at south pass 29; port eads, louisiana2026-08-13
Wcc oil spill, main pass 21; breton sound, louisiana2026-06-11
Tpic oil spill, main pass 81; gulf of america2026-06-10
Oil spill from out-of-service tank at tpic main pass 69 facility; louisiana2026-05-19

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

month of issue, all years in the archive

Timeline · 7 messages since 2024-12-08 · closed 2025-02-23

Pilottown, la, USA2024-12-08 → 2024-12-22
Delta national wildlife refuge / octave pass mystery sheen; pilottown, la2024-12-08 → 2024-12-22
Mystery sheen; main pass 81, louisiana2024-12-10 → 2024-12-24
Mystery sheens main pass 81; gulf of mexico this message2024-12-10 → 2024-12-24
Mystery sheen in main pass 69; main pass, la2024-12-17 → 2024-12-31
Tpic well #58 main pass oil spill; main pass 802025-01-27 → 2025-02-10
Gulf of america2025-02-09 → 2025-02-23

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisianaSpills · 14.8 nm
Uscg remote communication facility new orleans 29-53.00N 089-57.00W mf and hf dsc off airNav aids · 59 nm
8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USASpills · 83.5 nm

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