Seal Beach Well Blowout; Seal Beach, California

Seal Beach, California | 1990-Oct-31

Initial Notification: On October 30, 1990, a drilling rig within the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) blew out. The blowout resulted when the drill hit a high pressure gas pocket and a bolt on the safety collar gave out. Natural gas and a mist of approximately 20 barrels of crude oil were propelled into the air. The oil mist was carried into the adjacent tidal wetlands by the wind. Breit Burn Energy Corporation, the owners of the drilling rig, assumed responsibility, and hired L & J Vaughtco International to clean up the spill. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supervised the cleanup and bioremediation operations. USCG district 11. Keyword: National Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), blowout..