BSEE Reports 2,100-Barrel Spill in Gulf of Mexico
The operator, Shell Offshore Inc., reported the oil sheen was observed in the area of its Glider Field. It was about 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, La.
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported May 12 that it is responding to an oil sheen measuring 2 miles by 13 miles in the Gulf of Mexico that is approximately 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, La.
"The offshore oil and gas operator, Shell Offshore Inc., reported that a sheen was observed in the area of its Glider Field, a group of four subsea wells located in Green Canyon Block 248. The production from these four wells flows through a subsea manifold to Shell's Brutus platform located in 2,900 feet of water," according to the agency's release. "Shell reported that production from all wells that flow to the Brutus platform have been shut-in. There are no injuries reported and no personnel have been evacuated. The total subsea release from the four wells is estimated to be 2,100 barrels of oil."
BSEE said one of its inspectors made an overflight of the area and was on location at the Brutus platform, as BSEE will lead the incident investigation.
A barrel of oil is equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons, so the spill as reported by BSEE amounts to 88,200 gallons of oil.