Spills
Arco platform b #2; south pass, mississippi river delta, louisiana
NOAAORR-6687
- issued
- 1989-04-06 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1989-04-20 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1989-04-20 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 29.172, -88.869
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
ARCO Platform B #2; South Pass, Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana. South Pass, Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana. 1. On April 5, 1989, ARCO Platform B, structurally damaged in an explosion and fire on March 20, 1989, was in danger of collapse in the event of severe weather. The platform assembly and wells are located in Block 60 of the South Pass offshore lease on the Mississippi River, approximately 100 miles southeast of New Orleans. The U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service was concerned that a collapse could shear off well head assemblies on the sea floor 200 feet below the rig, spilling up to 200 barrels of crude oil daily. Oil seepage was occurring at the head assemblies but shut-in of the wells was not possible because of the March 20 fire damage to casing and valves. In addition, ARCO officials were reluctant to attempt capping the three wells below the platform because the gas line used to drive the wells was unsafe as a result of the fire and explosion in March. Heavy [...] 2. COMMODITY: OIL. 3. POSITION 29.172N 088.869W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6687: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6687
This area · spills & pollution incidents
996 within 180 nm since 1970 · 34 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
- 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
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Timeline · 2 messages since 1989-03-20 · closed 1989-04-20
- Arco platform b #1; south pass, mississippi river delta, louisiana1989-03-20 → 1989-04-03
- Arco platform b #2; south pass, mississippi river delta, louisiana this message1989-04-06 → 1989-04-20
joined by proximity
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisianaSpills · 22.5 nm
- Uscg remote communication facility new orleans 29-53.00N 089-57.00W mf and hf dsc off airNav aids · 70.8 nm
- 8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USASpills · 80.7 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 →
Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.