UNOCAL Platform GINA; Port Hueneme, California

Port Hueneme, California | 1991-May-10

Initial Notification: On May 10, 1991, a work boat trying to locate and retrieve a mooring buoy anchor near the northwest corner of the UNOCAL platform Gina, snagged the production pipeline with a grappling hook and damaged a 10-inch riser. The pipeline was also damaged about 500 feet from the rig. Damage to the rig and pipeline caused approximately 300 gallons of a California crude oil and water mixture (10 to 20% oil) to enter the water.Oil is produced at GINA by injecting seawater into the well and forcing the oil and water mixture out through the 5-mile long pipeline to a Mandalay Beach facility for separation and processing. The actual amount of crude oil spilled was estimated to be 50 barrels out of a pipeline capacity of 3,500 barrels of oil and water. USCG district 11.