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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Timeline · 2 messages since 1989-03-20 · closed 1989-04-20

  1. Arco platform b #1; south pass, mississippi river delta, louisiana1989-03-20 → 1989-04-03
  2. Arco platform b #2; south pass, mississippi river delta, louisiana this message1989-04-06 → 1989-04-20

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Spills

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