New Gulf Oil Spill Overshadows Cleanup Progress
Oil spews from a wellhead in Barataria Bay on the coast of Louisiana, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, after it was struck by a tugboat. A crew capable of capping the well is expected onsite later Tuesday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A second oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was reported Tuesday "is not considered to be a large leak and appears to be mostly natural gas with light oil mixed in," according to a press release from Jefferson Parish.
The leaking wellhead is located in Barataria Bay, near vulnerable marshlands and is only accessible by boat.
Barataria Bay is about 65 miles south of New Orleans and near Grand Isle, La. The weather in Grand Isle today is predicted to be hot, with temperatures climbing to 90 degrees with an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 101. Thunderstorms are possible later in the day.
Ownership of the well was still under discussion Wednesday morning. Jefferson Parish reported that the wellhead was owned by Cedyco Corporation, based in Houston, Texas. Other reports suggest that the wellhead was considered abandoned, but that Louisiana does not own the wellhead.
According to National Incident Commander for the Gulf Oil Spill Thad Allen, the structure is known as C117. In a press briefing, Allen said Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal were flying over the new spill Tuesday afternoon to assess the situtation.
Allen said, "There is a light sheen around the platform at this time. There is some vapor emanating we have an overhead picture that shows probably a combination of gas and water vapor and so forth coming into the surface."
Allen also said, "We have about 6,000 feet of boom around the facility."
The size of the new oil leak in Barataria Bay has not been determined. However, the new spill is close to fragile marshlands. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Jefferson Parish's press release stated that the incident occurred when "the tug vessel Pere Ana C, pushing the dredge barge Captain Buford Berry, [collided] with the wellhead while it transited the Barataria Waterway."
A 2-mile safety perimeter has been established around the wellhead.
The amount of natural gas and oil leaking from the well had not been determined.
A response team was expected to be on site Tuesday afternoon and Environmental Safety and Health has been contracted to begin cleanup. No residents live in the area.
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