BOA Pipeline Strike, Barataria Pass; Near Grand Isle, LA

Near Grand Isle, LA | 2012-Mar-17

Initial Notification: At 1224 CST on 17MAR, USCG Sector New Orleans contact NOAA SSC about a thick black sheen (1 mi by 1 mi) discovered by USCG personnel working in the vicinity. A jack-up rig dropped their spuds onto a pipeline earlier this morning causing an uncontrolled release of crude oil. The release has been for at least 3 hours and continues unsecured. Trajectory analysis has been requested.