Spills
At approximately 0240 on february 10, 1997, two fractionating (frac) tanks containing a total of 42,000…
Drill Mud Spill; Berwick, Louisiana · Berwick, Louisiana · NOAAORR-7189
- issued
- 1997-02-12 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1997-02-26 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1997-02-26 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 29.693, -91.223
- vessel
- BARGE RG 106
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Drill Mud Spill; Berwick, Louisiana. Berwick, Louisiana. 1. At approximately 0240 on February 10, 1997, two fractionating (frac) tanks containing a total of 42,000 gallons (500 barrels each) of diesel-based drilling mud (diesel content approximately 50%) fell from a barge and sank along the right descending bank of the Atchafalaya River in Berwick, Louisiana, near Morgan City. The tanks fell off the barge RG 106 at the Baroid Dock, mile marker 116 and sank in approximately 25 feet of water. Denbury Management Inc. was the RP and initiated immediate cleanup actions. During initial salvage operations 90 barrels of mud/water were recovered from the first tank, 30 barrels were product; approximately 320 barrels were lost. The first tank was successfully raised from the bottom of the river on February 11, 1997. The second tank, which still contained the majority of its original product, remained on the bottom until it was pumped out and then [...] 2. COMMODITY: DIESEL BASED DRILL MUD. 3. POSITION 29.693N 091.223W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7189: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7189
This area · spills & pollution incidents
1213 within 180 nm since 1970 · 44 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
- Release of aluminum phosphide in M/V thorco liva; port arthur, texas2026-07-28
- Mystery oiled shoreline at holly beach; cameron parish, louisiana2026-07-10
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
Nearby now · within 120 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.