Spills
Santa barbara, california
Heritage Platform (exxon); Santa Barbara, California · NOAAORR-7138
- issued
- 1996-05-02 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1996-05-16 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1996-05-16 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 34.350, -120.280
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Heritage Platform (Exxon); Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara, California. 1. On May 1, 1996, as the platform Heritage restarted operations, oil was forced through the platform's gas-flame exhaust pipe. Some product was ignited as it was released but did not continue burning on the open seas. Weather was foggy with winds east-southeast at 10 to 12 knots, seas 1 to 2 feet with swells 4 to 6 feet. Platform personnel deployed containment boom and secured the source. Clean Seas was contacted. They brought skimming vessels on-scene and began open-water cleanup operations. When visibility allowed, Exxon and the USCG conducted overflights and estimated the volume of spilled material was between 50 and 200 barrels. Clean Seas collected larger concentrations of oil with skimmers and towed booms. During night operations, oil was corralled in booms and skimmed. The cause of this incident is being investigated by MMS and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary was [...] 2. COMMODITY: HONDO CRUDE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 8400 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 34.350N 120.280W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7138: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7138
This area · spills & pollution incidents
206 within 180 nm since 1969 · 15 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now
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- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USA2026-08-30
- J444+RW monterey, ca, USA2026-08-13
- Pollution surveillance report off santa barbara; montecito, california2026-08-13
- 1809 sunset dr, pacific grove, ca 93950, USA2026-08-07
- R685+56 moss landing, ca, USA2026-08-07
- Sunken fishing vessel in santa cruz harbor; santa cruz, california2026-06-13
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Nearby now · within 120 nm
Worldwide now
6 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.