Vermillion 16; Freshwater City, Louisiana

Freshwater City, Louisiana | 1997-Jun-21

Initial Notification: On June 21, 1997, the Vermillion 16 oil line, a six-inch line owned by Apache Oil of Houston, Texas began leaking product approximately three miles west of Freshwater City, Louisiana. The spilled material was a weathered light condensate leaking from a pencil-sized hole. Apache Oil reported that no more than two barrels were spilled, but after measuring the affected area, which was 400 by 700 feet and about 0.125 inches thick, the amount spilled was increased to at least 500 barrels. The product was contained on eight to ten acres of privately owned coastal marsh. The oil had been leaking for sometime, perhaps as long as four months. The spill had not yet been reported to the NRC or any Federal agency. The freestanding product thickness in the affected area was 25 inches and, using an evaporation rate of 50 percent, the amount of product spilled was estimated to be more than 2,000 barrels. The marsh vegetation was saturated with product. USCG district 8. Keyword: evaporation.