South Timbalier Block 38; Louisiana Coast

Louisiana Coast | 1991-Oct-14

Initial Notification: At 0730 CDT on 10/14/91 the oil rig South Timbalier Block 38 experienced a mechanical malfunction that caused it to release an estimated 300 bbls of light crude (API 39.5) into the water off the Louisiana coast. The rig is located at 28 degrees, 56.12 minutes N, 090 degrees, 18.49 minutes W. The leak has been stopped. The oil rig is owned by ELF Exploration of Houston, Texas. A US Coast Guard overflight at 1330 CDT observed an approximately 7 mile by 3 mile patch of light rainbow sheen with some mousse 4 1/2 miles south of the Barrier Islands on the Louisiana coast. At that time the patch appeared to be moving North at 1/2 knot, and the winds were at 10-15 knots from the South. The current weather report shows that the winds should swing to the North sometime during the night. It is expected that approx. 50 per cent of the oil will have weathered in the first 24 hours. The SSC (Cdr. Mike Barnhill) was notified and has contacted MASS for trajectory information. USCG district 8.