Spills
Elf exploration rig; south timbalier block 38
NOAAORR-6839
- issued
- 1991-10-14 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1991-10-28 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1991-10-28 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 28.935, -90.308
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Elf Exploration Rig; South Timbalier Block 38. South Timbalier Block 38. 1. At approximately 0730, on October 14, 1991, an offshore oil rig owned by ELF Exploration of Houston, Texas released approximately 300 barrels of South Louisiana crude into the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana. This release was reportedly caused by a mechanical malfunction. A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) overflight at 1330 observed a light rainbow sheen with some mousse covering a seven- by three-mile area. This sheen was located about four and a half miles south of the Barrier Islands on the Louisiana Coast. The patch appeared to be moving north at approximately 0.5 knots. The winds were out of the south at 10 to 15 knots, and forecast to swing to the north during the evening hours. USCG district 8. Keyword: none. 2. COMMODITY: SOUTH LOUISIANA CRUDE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 12600 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 28.935N 090.308W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6839: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6839
This area · spills & pollution incidents
1093 within 180 nm since 1970 · 37 in the last 12 months · 3 in force now
70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisiana2026-08-26
- Intermittent oil sheen; flower garden banks national marine sanctuary, bright bank2026-08-25
- 8X38+5H dauphin island, al, USA2026-08-24
- Mystery sheen at south pass 29; port eads, louisiana2026-08-13
- Mystery oiled shoreline at holly beach; cameron parish, louisiana2026-07-10
- Wcc oil spill, main pass 21; breton sound, louisiana2026-06-11
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
month of issue, all years in the archive
Timeline · 2 messages since 1991-10-14 · closed 1991-10-28
- Elf exploration rig; south timbalier block 38 this message1991-10-14 → 1991-10-28
- South timbalier block 38; louisiana coast1991-10-14 → 1991-10-28
joined by proximity
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisianaSpills · 54.5 nm
- Uscg remote communication facility new orleans 29-53.00N 089-57.00W mf and hf dsc off airNav aids · 59.9 nm
- Survey operations in progress until 15 sep by M/V island pride, M/V sanco swift and M/V olympic artemis in…Surveys · 106.2 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.