NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard and Shell continue joint efforts to respond to a discharge of oil from a segment of flow line at the Glider Field located approximately 90 miles south of Timbalier Island, Louisiana, that occurred at approximately 11 a.m., Thursday.
An estimated 88,200 gallons of crude oil was discharged. Shell has shut-in production at the Glider field and Brutus. The Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinators office and the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security have been notified and remain engaged. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Friday, a remote operated vehicle deployed from the Motor Vessel Ocean Alliance identified a flow-line as the source of the release. The section of flow line has been isolated and the ROV is continuing to assess the subsea infrastructure to confirm no additional discharge points.
Shell and the Coast Guard have mobilized 137 personnel for unified response efforts. On water recovery vessels are searching for oil that can be safely recovered via skimming. Five on water recovery vessels have been mobilized. Shell contracted air resources have been mobilized to provide aerial assessment of the affected area. The Coast Guard and Shell jointly agreed that using on-water recovery vessels and skimming is the safest and most effective oil recovery option at this time.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) remains involved and is leading an investigation to determine the cause of the release. Repair plans will be subject to BSEE’s approval.
To report any information regarding the incident, go to: http://forms.shell.com/en/us/contact-deepwater.html.
Shell Media Line: 713-241-4544
CG Duty Phone: 618-225-9008
BSEE Duty: 504-736-7535