Barge Bonita; Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico | 2001-Jan-13

Initial Notification: The NOAA SSC was notified by MSU Galveston of an explosion on a jack-up rig in Galveston Block A109 at 1929 hrs, 13 January 2001. Since the event had just happen, the initial report was sketchy and limited to the location (29? 08.57' N Lat. 094? 40.20' W Long.), vessel name (Bonita), and preliminary situation (explosion - details unknown). The NOAA SSC contacted the HAZMAT Duty Officer who arranged for "Home Team" scientific support. Given the high probability of loss of diesel fuel and lube oils on board the vessel and the possibility of an uncontrolled well blow-out, the SSC requested that the event be addressed as a potential major release. Weather forecast and trajectory implications were developed by the NOAA HAZMAT Home Team and verbally communicated to the USCG. Given the forecast on an approaching winter frontal passage and the distance off-shore (25 plus miles), no landfall of oil was forecast for the next several days. Any diesel fuel released would not persist more than a couple of miles from the release point due to the chemical nature of diesel oil and relative high seas (4-5'). The SSC also consulted with the Texas State SSC relative to trajectory implications. At approximately 2100 hrs, the USCG called to update the situation: The lift boat did explode. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Six people were injured (broken bones and burns), but at this point, no fatalities. The sub-sea safety valve was shut preventing any release from the well, and the well was reported to only be producing water at the time of the explosion. This is still preliminary information, but the USCG was confident that there was no apparent well release based on confirming observations from a USCG vessel on-scene. The lift boat was damaged, but the fuel tanks were reported to be intact. Given the updated situation and the low probability of shoreline impacts from any minor release, the NOAA team is standing-down, but remains on stand by. USCG district 8.