Spills
Seal beach, california
Seal Beach Well Blowout; Seal Beach, California · NOAAORR-6764
- issued
- 1990-10-31 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1990-11-14 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1990-11-14 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 33.767, -118.183
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Seal Beach Well Blowout; Seal Beach, California. Seal Beach, California. 1. On October 30, 1990, a drilling rig within the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) blew out. The blowout resulted when the drill hit a high pressure gas pocket and a bolt on the safety collar gave out. Natural gas and a mist of approximately 20 barrels of crude oil were propelled into the air. The oil mist was carried into the adjacent tidal wetlands by the wind. Breit Burn Energy Corporation, the owners of the drilling rig, assumed responsibility, and hired L & J Vaughtco International to clean up the spill. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supervised the cleanup and bioremediation operations. USCG district 11. Keyword: National Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), blowout.. 2. COMMODITY: CRUDE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 840 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 33.767N 118.183W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6764: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6764
This area · spills & pollution incidents
159 within 180 nm since 1957 · 11 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now
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- MQMG+2H san diego, ca, USA2026-08-25
- Pollution surveillance report off santa barbara; montecito, california2026-08-13
- 12242 western ave, garden grove, ca 92841, USA2026-05-22
- Pipeline leak into los angeles river; east los angeles, california2026-05-22
- 87HX+RV santa barbara, ca, USA2026-05-11
- 60 admiralty cross, coronado, ca 92118, USA2026-04-21
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z aug to 010800Z sep in area bound by 32-55.00N 118-25.00W, 32-55.00N 118-15.00W,…Exercises · 60.3 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z sep to 010800Z oct in area bound by 32-55.00N 118-25.00W, 32-55.00N 118-15.00W,…Exercises · 60.3 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z sep to 010800Z oct in area bound by 32-52.70N 119-11.96W, 33-08.06N 118-52.09W,…Exercises · 64.5 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z aug to 010800Z sep in area bound by 32-52.70N 119-11.96W, 33-08.06N 118-52.09W,…Exercises · 64.5 nm
- Hazardous operations 311300Z to 312100Z aug in area bound by 33-26.00N 119-25.00W, 33-37.00N 119-10.00W,…Exercises · 71 nm
- MQMG+2H san diego, ca, USASpills · 81 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z sep to 010800Z oct in area bound by 32-33.00N 118-25.00W, 32-35.00N 118-16.00W,…Exercises · 91.4 nm
- Hazardous operations 010800Z aug to 010800Z sep in area bound by 32-33.00N 118-25.00W, 32-35.00N 118-16.00W,…Exercises · 91.4 nm
- Coronado island south light 32-23.5N 117-14.5W unlitNav aids · 95.2 nm
Worldwide now
7 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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