Spills · oil
On december 1, 2018, the uscg notified noaa ssc of a release of synthetic oil based mud to the seafloor
Pacific Sharav Drilling Mud Release; Gom · Gom · NOAAORR-9826
- issued
- 2018-12-01 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 2018-12-15 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 2018-12-15 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- Gulf of Mexico
- position
- 28.377, -88.230
- vessels
- DRILL SHIP LATER HOOKED BACKDRILLING RIG PACIFIC SHARAV MADE AN EMERGENCY
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
PACIFIC SHARAV Drilling Mud Release; GoM. GoM. 1. On December 1, 2018, the USCG notified NOAA SSC of a release of synthetic oil based mud to the seafloor. Drilling Rig Pacific Sharav made an emergency disconnect from the well head (6,800ft depth) due to rough seas and 90kt winds. Approximately 2282bbl of mud was released from the bottom of the riser. The drill ship later hooked back into the well without further incident. No sheen or evidence of product at the surface has been reported. 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: DRILLING MUD. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 84000 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 28.377N 088.230W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 9826: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/9826
This area · spills & pollution incidents
897 within 180 nm since 1970 · 33 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
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- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisiana2026-08-26
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Nearby now · within 120 nm
- Crude oil spill and in-situ burn at tpic; south pass 24, pilottown, louisianaSpills · 69.7 nm
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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 →
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