Mystery Sheen at South Pass 29; Port Eads, Louisiana

XQHQ+VV Port Eads, LA, USA | 2026-Aug-13

Initial Notification: On August 13, 2026, the Satellite Analysis Branch of NESDIS (the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) issued a Marine Pollution Surveillance Report (MPSR) for a slick observed in block SOUTH PASS 29. The image was collected on August 12, 2026 at 2358 UTC via RADARSAT2. From the NESDIS report: Possible oil was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. The possible oil slick was observed in the South Pass area of the Gulf just south of the Louisiana Bird's Foot. It spanned an area that measured approximately 13.5 by 5 nautical miles. The possible slick was comprised of numerous segments that were mostly linear in shape, exhibiting good contrast and well defined edges. This was believed to be associated with a National Response Center report nearby. Due to the factors described above, confidence in this report was medium-high. Winds at the time of the imagery were out of the WSW at approximately 10-15 knots. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requested trajectory analysis from NOAA. REPORT MAP/GIS FILES: https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/products/ocean/marinepollution/