Spills

Vermillion 16; freshwater city, louisiana

NOAAORR-7211

issued
1997-06-21 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1997-07-05 00:00Z
self-cancels
1997-07-05 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.562, -92.355
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Vermillion 16; Freshwater City, Louisiana.
Freshwater City, Louisiana.
1. On June 21, 1997, the Vermillion 16 oil line, a six-inch line owned by Apache Oil of Houston, Texas began leaking product approximately three miles west of Freshwater City, Louisiana. The spilled material was a weathered light condensate leaking from a pencil-sized hole. Apache Oil reported that no more than two barrels were spilled, but after measuring the affected area, which was 400 by 700 feet and about 0.125 inches thick, the amount spilled was increased to at least 500 barrels. The product was contained on eight to ten acres of privately owned coastal marsh. The oil had been leaking for sometime, perhaps as long as four months. The spill had not yet been reported to the NRC or any Federal agency. The freestanding product thickness in the affected area was 25 inches and, using an evaporation rate of 50 percent, the amount of product spilled was estimated to be more than 2,000 [...]
2. COMMODITY: LIGHT CONDENSATE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 21000 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 29.562N 092.355W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7211: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7211

This area · spills & pollution incidents

1264 within 180 nm since 1970 · 41 in the last 12 months · 2 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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