Spills · oil

Persian gulf, kuwait

Arabian Gulf Spills; Persian Gulf, Kuwait · NOAAORR-6786

issued
1991-01-19 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1991-02-02 00:00Z
self-cancels
1991-02-02 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Persian Gulf
position
29.500, 48.000
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Arabian Gulf Spills; Persian Gulf, Kuwait.
Persian Gulf, Kuwait.
1. During the 1991 Gulf War, tankers and oil terminals in Kuwait were destroyed, causing the release of an estimated 6-8 million barrels (252 - 336 million gallons) of oil into the waters of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. Many oil wells in Kuwait were destroyed and set on fire, resulting in the release of much greater amounts of oil and combustion products to land, air, and water in Kuwait. [Edited 05/18/2010 to clarify the amounts of oil released to water vs land and air in this incident.]
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: KUWAIT CRUDE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 336000009 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 29.500N 048.000E. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6786: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6786

This area · spills & pollution incidents

2 within 180 nm since 1983 · 0 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

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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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