Pipeline Rupture; Texas

Texas | 1998-Jan-22

Initial Notification: At 1914CST, 22JAN98, Amoco Pipeline recorded a pressure drop indicative of a pipeline rupture. The rupture occurred somewhere along a line running from mid-Galveston Island (on a course of 151 degrees true) out to a point approximately 90 miles offshore. Calculations by Amoco, based on the pressure drop, indicated a worse case release of 2500 barrels of Texas Sweet Crude, having an API of 39.4. Overnight SLAR overflights by a USCG Falcon Jet revealed a slick in position 28-25.0N, 94-25.0W, approximately 50 miles offshore. The Region 6 Dispersant Preapproval Checklist was completed, USCG Gulf Strike Team SROMP was notified and the RP placed aerial dispersants on standby. A morning overflight revealed a 1/2 - 1 mile x 4-5 mile slick of broken coverage (40%sheen), leading edge in position 28-24.8N and trailing edge in position 28-30.5N, 94-27.6W. The slick contained one patch of heavy brown oil measuring 1/4 mile by 1/4 mile. calculations by observers on the overflights estimated the amount of product in the water to be 300 barrels. USCG district 8.