Sandfer Offshore Petroleum; Off Morgan City, Louisiana

Off Morgan City, Louisiana | 1989-Feb-15

Initial Notification: Early on February 15, 1989, Sandfer Offshore Petroleum discovered that approximately 600 barrels of Louisiana crude oil had spilled during the night from their "Alpha" platform in an offshore lease approximately 60 nautical miles south-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana. The platform collection tank that had overflowed and caused the spill was secured and was no longer leaking oil. A U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service overflight reported a 50-yard wide slick extending 35 miles to the northwest. A U.S. Coast Guard overflight at 1500 observed that the slick, which was proceeding northwest in a long streamer measuring 21 miles long, showed signs of breaking up. USCG district 8.