Efforts Underway to Locate Pipeline Breach After Estimated 1.1 Million Gallons of Oil Contaminates Gulf of Mexico

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The U.S. Coast Guard disclosed on Tuesday that a pipeline system off the coast of Southeast Louisiana may be responsible for releasing as much as 1.1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Officials have ceased operations of the implicated pipeline, yet they continue to seek the precise source and reason for the spillage, as stated in a Coast Guard briefing. Fortunately, the oil has not yet impacted any land areas, although its effects on the local wildlife are still under assessment. A report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service noted the sighting of two oil-coated pelicans near the Louisiana shoreline on Saturday, who were, however, observed to be active and capable of flight.

The oil leak was identified during a period of strong winds in the Gulf, which assisted in the evaporation and dispersion of some of the oil. Despite these conditions, oil slicks and patches remained noticeable, according to Capt. Kelly Denning, the New Orleans sector commander for the Coast Guard.

The leak was traced near a pipeline owned by Main Pass Oil Company, a Third Coast Infrastructure LLC subsidiary based in Houston. As of Tuesday morning, the company had not yet issued a response to inquiries. A segment of the pipeline, spanning 67 miles, was deactivated last week while efforts were made to locate and determine the cause of the leak.

WWL-TV reported last Friday that pipeline measurements suggested a loss of 1.1 million gallons of oil, a figure later acknowledged as plausible by federal authorities. This quantity is significantly smaller compared to the 134 million gallons released during the 2010 BP oil disaster caused by an oil rig explosion.

Nevertheless, an environmental organization labeled the spill as substantial. The Center for Biological Diversity, in a press release, lamented the recurrent threats faced by marine life in the Gulf, from dolphins to birds and rare whales, due to an industry frequently involved in spills and prioritizing profits over environmental safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gulf of Mexico oil spill

More about Gulf of Mexico oil spill

• U.S. Coast Guard: Oil Spill Investigation
• Main Pass Oil Company
• Center for Biological Diversity