An 82-year-old well in the Gulf of Mexico has been leaking oil and gas for over a week. The U.S. Coast Guard, now leading the cleanup, has deployed over 15,000 feet of boom and recovered more than 50,000 gallons of oil-water mixture.
For over a week, the U.S. Coast Guard, along with various agencies, has been engaged in efforts to manage what is now referred to as a “uncontrolled oil and natural gas discharge” in the Gulf of Mexico.
A leak was first identified on April 26, originating from a well operated by Spectrum OpCo at the Garden Island Bay Production Facility located in Plaquemines Parish, over 80 miles southeast of New Orleans.
The Coast Guard has confirmed the discharge of crude oil into the water, following a flyover conducted by the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office that detected the contamination. The well, which is now 82 years old, has reportedly passed recent state inspections and was transferred to Spectrum OpCo from Whitney Oil and Gas LLC in August 2024.
A Unified Command, which includes the Coast Guard, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, and Spectrum, has mobilized more than 165 responders to address the leak effectively. Initial efforts involved the deployment of skimmers, storage equipment, and 4,300 feet of boom—floating barriers designed to contain oil spills.
As of Friday, the deployment of boom has reached an impressive 15,200 feet, with an additional 6,800 feet prepared and on standby. Authorities have successfully recovered over 50,000 gallons of an oily mixture.
On Thursday, the Coast Guard took over the pollution response efforts from Spectrum, marking a significant shift in the management of the situation. The precise volume of the spill has yet to be determined, and authorities continue to investigate the matter. Airspace restrictions have been implemented, limiting access up to 2,000 feet and within a two-mile radius of the discharge site.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is offering scientific guidance aimed at evaluating potential risks to local wildlife and natural resources. Spectrum, headquartered in Delaware and managed from Houston, is said to operate nearly 300 wells in the region.
Round-the-clock efforts are underway to contain and clean up the spill.
