Rig Mallard; Lake Washington, LA

Lake Washington, LA | 1998-Sep-22

Initial Notification: At approximately 0530 CDT, 22SEPT98 the Rig "Mallard" located in Lake Washington, Louisiana experienced a blowout. The rig is located at approximately, latitude 29?-21.6'N, longitude 89?-47.5'W, or about 8 miles SW of Port Sulphur, LA. Initial reports had indicated very little condensate or crude release and a gas plume 200'-300' tall. Air monitoring throughout the day has failed to detect and significant levels of H2S. Afternoon overflights are contradicting earlier overflight reports of very little impact from a crude/condensate release. This afternoons reports indicate potentially 25 sq/miles of rainbow and silver sheen impacted area and 3-4 miles of oil impacted shoreline to the SE of the blowout location. The oil is possibly migrating subsurface before rising and impacting the shore. Areas impacted include Billet Bay, Garden Bay, Long Bay and Lake Washington. USCG district 8.