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Graying Platform Blowout; Cook Inlet, Alaska

Cook Inlet, Alaska | 1985-May-23

Initial Notification: HAZMAT, SEATTLE, WAS NOTIFIED AT 11:45 PDT, 5/23/85, OF A BLOW-OUT IN COOK INLET AT UNION OIL'S PLATFORM 'GRAYLING'. POSITION: 60 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 20 SECONDS NORTH LATITUDE 151 DEGREES 36 MINUTES 40 SECONDS WEST LONGITUDE AT THE PRESENT TIME, NATURAL GAS <<ONLY>> IS LEAKING FROM THE BLOW-OUT SITE. A COMBINATION OF THE NATURAL GAS AND MUD IS PROJECTING 300 FEET HIGH- NO VISIBLE SHEEN IS REPORTED. BLOW-OUT PREVENTORS AND CASINGS HAVE FAILED. THE NATURAL GAS IS LEAKING THROUGH ONE OF THE PLATFORM'S STRUCTURAL SUPPORT LEGS, CAUSING SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE. THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION FOR STOPPING THE BLOW-OUT, HOWEVER, A RELIEF WELL IS BEING PROPOSED. THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN COMPLETELY EVACUATED WITH NO INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE COAST GUARD HAS REQUESTED HAZMAT SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF: TRAJECTORIES RESOURCES AT RISK DISPERSANT RECOMMENDATIONS THE SPILL POTENTIAL FOR THIS INCIDENT IS 3,350 BBLS. USCG district 17.

Incident Details
Products of concern:natural gas
Latitude (approximate): 60° 50.00′ North
Longitude (approximate): 151° 36.00′ West