Pipeline Rupture Spills 2,000 Gallons of Crude Into Gulf

NEWS RELEASE FROM UNITED STATES COAST GUARD:

PORT ARTHUR - Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur is responding to a ruptured crude oil pipeline approximately 4 miles offshore of McFaddin Beach, Texas. So far, approximately 2,000 gallons of oil have been released into the Gulf of Mexico today.

At 9:25 A.M. today, the National Response Center notified Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur that there was a discharge of crude oil about 4 miles offshore of McFaddin Beach, Texas. The source of the discharge is a pipeline located in Tammany Oil and Gas Field. A helicopter overflight was conducted and found that the pipeline was leaking from 2 places.

Pressure has been secured on the pipeline and the current discharge rate is minimal. However, some of the discharged oil may come ashore at McFaddin Beach sometime tonight.

Two boats are currently on scene conducting recovery operations of the discharged oil. At least 2 other boats have been placed in standby status so that there can be continuous operations, weather permitting. In addition, a team of divers will be at the discharge location tomorrow morning at 4 A.M. with necessary equipment to secure the pipeline. The cause of the leak is still under investigation.

Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur, O'Brien's Group, Texas General Land Office, and Clean Gulf personnel have established a Unified Command Post to manage the clean-up and recovery of the oil.