Spills

South timbalier block 38; louisiana coast

NOAAORR-6840

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

South Timbalier Block 38; Louisiana Coast.
Louisiana Coast.
1. At 0730 CDT on 10/14/91 the oil rig South Timbalier Block 38 experienced a mechanical malfunction that caused it to release an estimated 300 bbls of light crude (API 39.5) into the water off the Louisiana coast. The rig is located at 28 degrees, 56.12 minutes N, 090 degrees, 18.49 minutes W. The leak has been stopped. The oil rig is owned by ELF Exploration of Houston, Texas. A US Coast Guard overflight at 1330 CDT observed an approximately 7 mile by 3 mile patch of light rainbow sheen with some mousse 4 1/2 miles south of the Barrier Islands on the Louisiana coast. At that time the patch appeared to be moving North at 1/2 knot, and the winds were at 10-15 knots from the South. The current weather report shows that the winds should swing to the North sometime during the night. It is expected that approx. 50 per cent of the oil will have weathered in the first 24 hours. The SSC (Cdr. [...]
2. COMMODITY: LIGHT CRUDE OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 12600 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 28.935N 090.308W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6840: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6840

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1093 within 180 nm since 1970 · 37 in the last 12 months · 3 in force now

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Timeline · 2 messages since 1991-10-14 · closed 1991-10-28

  1. Elf exploration rig; south timbalier block 381991-10-14 → 1991-10-28
  2. South timbalier block 38; louisiana coast this message1991-10-14 → 1991-10-28

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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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