Latest news with #SpectrumOpCo
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
US agencies scramble to contain massive oil leak from decades-old well: 'We owe it to our communities'
A tri-agency effort between the U.S. Coast Guard, Spectrum OpCo, LLC, and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office helped contain a weeklong oil-and-gas well leak located at the border of a Louisiana parish at the Gulf of Mexico, according to The Business Journal. The oil spill was first reported April 26 as coming from the shut-in of a natural oil and gas well, known as Well #59, per the Coast Guard's first update in a series of press releases on the incident. This well, owned by Spectrum OpCo, had been inactive since 2016 and had not had measurable oil pressure since the 1990s, according to CBS News. The well remained idle for nearly a decade, but it had not been permanently plugged or sealed for abandonment. Within 24 hours of the confirmed spill, nearly 100 responders were actively working to contain the oil leak and minimize damage. The emergency response included the use of skimmers, containment boom barriers, and absorbent booms to prevent the spread of oil, which could damage nearby marshes and islands. By the time the three agencies, dubbed "Unified Command," gained control of the discharge — a week after the first report — the response teams had recovered nearly 71,000 gallons of crude oil and natural gas water mixture from Garden Island Bay. Per the Coast Guard's final press release, there have been four reports of oiled birds and one oiled alligator observed. Three of the birds were captured for rehabilitation, and one has since been freed. While not a regular occurrence, oil spills do happen, and each incident causes significant, long-term damage to marine habitats and marine life. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened in the very same region in 2010 caused $17.2 billion in damage to natural resources, according to a Virginia Tech article. A recent landslide in Ecuador has resulted in a large oil spill in the Esmeraldas River, which the Esmeraldas province mayor described as "unprecedented." Crude oil spills, which contain toxic volatile organic compounds, contaminate bodies of water with extremely dangerous and toxic chemical substances harmful to human health and marine life. Communities living near an oil spill site may be at higher risk of cancer because of exposure to these toxic compounds. In marine life, exposure to VOCs may cause stunted growth, immune system defects, and even death, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Oil-coated marine life, such as seabirds and otters, may find it difficult to fly or keep warm as the oil may strip the fur of its insulating properties. Taking inspiration from a sea sponge known by its common name, the Venus flower basket, researchers from China's Harbin Institute of Technology have replicated a vortex-anchored filter, with the sponge's architecture that allows the device to filter out oil particles in water. Russian scientists have developed a sniffing machine, or an e-nose, to help detect oil spills in soil. This device is at least 20 times more cost-effective at detecting oil incidents than current lab equipment. Cleaning up large oil spills will require a collaborative effort on all levels of government and various agencies. "We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana's coast — before it's too late," said U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, per The Business Journal. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Federal authorities are cleaning up an oil spill in southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal authorities are seeking to contain and clean up the damage from a decades-old oil well in southeast Louisiana that spewed crude and natural gas for more than a week. Upwards of 79,000 gallons (299,047 liters) of 'oily water mixture' have been recovered near Garden Island Bay in Plaquemines Parish at the edge of the Mississippi River Delta Basin, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. The region is still recovering from the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago. 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work,' U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Greg Callaghan, who is coordinating the federal response, said in an emailed statement. 'The Unified Command is fully committed to an exhaustive cleanup effort and will remain on site for as long as necessary to ensure the removal of oil and the safety of both the community and the ecosystem,' Callaghan added. Authorities say they have deployed more than 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) of containment booms. The cause of the leak remains under investigation, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has 'successfully secured' the well that's responsible for the leakage, owned by the firm Spectrum OpCo, LLC. But the total amount of discharged oil remained 'unknown.' 'Spectrum OpCo sincerely regrets the incident and its potential impact on our neighbors and remains fully engaged and resolutely committed to assisting with the cleanup,' the company said in an emailed statement. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, stated it is 'providing on-scene scientific support' such as tracking the spread of the spill and identifying natural resources at risk. So far, only one bird covered in oil has been reported by federal authorities. Plaquemines Parish has 20 pending lawsuits against oil and gas companies for failing to clean up infrastructure and surrounding coastal wetlands. Last month, a jury ordered Chevron to pay more than $740 million in damages to the parish. Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said that the spill called attention to the 'clear and present danger' posed by cutting federal employees at agencies like NOAA who have experience handling oil spills. 'We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana's coast — before it's too late,' Carter said. ___ Brook covers Louisiana government, infrastructure and environmental issues from New Orleans. He is a Report for America corps member.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Federal authorities start to clean up oil spill in southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal authorities are seeking to contain and clean up the damage from a decades-old oil well in southeast Louisiana that spewed crude and natural gas for more than a week. Upwards of 79,000 gallons (299,047 liters) of 'oily water mixture' have been recovered near Garden Island Bay in Plaquemines Parish at the edge of the Mississippi River Delta Basin, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. The region is still recovering from the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago. 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work," U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Greg Callaghan, who is coordinating the federal response, said in an emailed statement. "The Unified Command is fully committed to an exhaustive cleanup effort and will remain on site for as long as necessary to ensure the removal of oil and the safety of both the community and the ecosystem,' Callaghan added. Authorities say they have deployed more than 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) of containment booms. The cause of the leak remains under investigation, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has 'successfully secured' the well that's responsible for the leakage, owned by the firm Spectrum OpCo, LLC. But the total amount of discharged oil remained 'unknown." 'Spectrum OpCo sincerely regrets the incident and its potential impact on our neighbors and remains fully engaged and resolutely committed to assisting with the cleanup,' the company said in an emailed statement. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, stated it is 'providing on-scene scientific support' such as tracking the spread of the spill and identifying natural resources at risk. So far, only one bird covered in oil has been reported by federal authorities. Plaquemines Parish has 20 pending lawsuits against oil and gas companies for failing to clean up infrastructure and surrounding coastal wetlands. Last month, a jury ordered Chevron to pay more than $740 million in damages to the parish. Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said that the spill called attention to the 'clear and present danger' posed by cutting federal employees at agencies like NOAA who have experience handling oil spills. 'We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana's coast — before it's too late,' Carter said. ___ Brook covers Louisiana government, infrastructure and environmental issues from New Orleans. He is a Report for America corps member.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal authorities start to clean up oil spill in southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal authorities are seeking to contain and clean up the damage from a decades-old oil well in southeast Louisiana that spewed crude and natural gas for more than a week. Upwards of 79,000 gallons (299,047 liters) of 'oily water mixture' have been recovered near Garden Island Bay in Plaquemines Parish at the edge of the Mississippi River Delta Basin, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. The region is still recovering from the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago. 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work,' U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Greg Callaghan, who is coordinating the federal response, said in an emailed statement. 'The Unified Command is fully committed to an exhaustive cleanup effort and will remain on site for as long as necessary to ensure the removal of oil and the safety of both the community and the ecosystem,' Callaghan added. Authorities say they have deployed more than 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) of containment booms. The cause of the leak remains under investigation, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has 'successfully secured' the well that's responsible for the leakage, owned by the firm Spectrum OpCo, LLC. But the total amount of discharged oil remained 'unknown.' 'Spectrum OpCo sincerely regrets the incident and its potential impact on our neighbors and remains fully engaged and resolutely committed to assisting with the cleanup,' the company said in an emailed statement. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, stated it is 'providing on-scene scientific support' such as tracking the spread of the spill and identifying natural resources at risk. So far, only one bird covered in oil has been reported by federal authorities. Plaquemines Parish has 20 pending lawsuits against oil and gas companies for failing to clean up infrastructure and surrounding coastal wetlands. Last month, a jury ordered Chevron to pay more than $740 million in damages to the parish. Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said that the spill called attention to the 'clear and present danger' posed by cutting federal employees at agencies like NOAA who have experience handling oil spills. 'We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana's coast — before it's too late,' Carter said. ___ Brook covers Louisiana government, infrastructure and environmental issues from New Orleans. He is a Report for America corps member.
Associated Press
05-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Federal authorities start to clean up oil spill in southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal authorities are seeking to contain and clean up the damage from a decades-old oil well in southeast Louisiana that spewed crude and natural gas for more than a week. Upwards of 79,000 gallons (299,047 liters) of 'oily water mixture' have been recovered near Garden Island Bay in Plaquemines Parish at the edge of the Mississippi River Delta Basin, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. The region is still recovering from the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago. 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work,' U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Greg Callaghan, who is coordinating the federal response, said in an emailed statement. 'The Unified Command is fully committed to an exhaustive cleanup effort and will remain on site for as long as necessary to ensure the removal of oil and the safety of both the community and the ecosystem,' Callaghan added. Authorities say they have deployed more than 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) of containment booms. The cause of the leak remains under investigation, officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has 'successfully secured' the well that's responsible for the leakage, owned by the firm Spectrum OpCo, LLC. But the total amount of discharged oil remained 'unknown.' 'Spectrum OpCo sincerely regrets the incident and its potential impact on our neighbors and remains fully engaged and resolutely committed to assisting with the cleanup,' the company said in an emailed statement. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, stated it is 'providing on-scene scientific support' such as tracking the spread of the spill and identifying natural resources at risk. So far, only one bird covered in oil has been reported by federal authorities. Plaquemines Parish has 20 pending lawsuits against oil and gas companies for failing to clean up infrastructure and surrounding coastal wetlands. Last month, a jury ordered Chevron to pay more than $740 million in damages to the parish. Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said that the spill called attention to the 'clear and present danger' posed by cutting federal employees at agencies like NOAA who have experience handling oil spills. 'We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana's coast — before it's too late,' Carter said. ___ Brook covers Louisiana government, infrastructure and environmental issues from New Orleans. He is a Report for America corps member.
