Hurricane Ike: Mystery Sheen ; Ship Shoal Block 154

Ship Shoal Block 154 | 2008-Sep-16

Initial Notification: This information was sent via email to the NOAA SSC on the morning of Tuesday, 16 September 2008. RCVD NRC # 883951 Judd Hogan of air logistics reported at 1457 an unknown sheen located in Ship Shoal Block 154 of the Gulf of Mexico. Conducted an over flight at 1710 and observed the discharge. Discharge appeared to be a bubbling of golden condensate like oil. The bubbling was about 25 ft by 35 ft in size. Total sheen size was 5 miles by 5 miles with a concentrated sheen in the center of dark gold bands with light gold centers approximately 1 1/2 mile by 1 mile. Bubbling broke surface of the water slightly. Sheen was moving northwest and the weather was cloudy with possible rain and a sea of 5ft. Location of the sheen was N28 40.84 and W91 12.64. There was a red buoy approximately 100 ft from the bubbling and a helo deck approximately 400 ft from the bubbling as well. As of this time there is no RP who has come forward or been located. Discharge was first located at 1350 15SEP08. Sheen is approximately 52 miles off shore. Discharge is ongoing at this time and has not been secured.