The Unified Command, consisting of the US Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO), has secured the discharge of oil and natural gas from Well 59 near Garden Island Bay, Louisiana, the US Coast Guard said in its release on May 4.
The well intervention team cut the flange on the discharging wellhead, enabling responders to install a flowback assembly to regain control of the source.
Since the incident was first reported on April 26, responders have been actively working to secure the source of the discharge while containing and recovering oil.
To date, 20,300 feet of 18” containment boom is in place with 4,200 feet more on standby.
Responders have also deployed 1,047 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands. To date, responders have recovered approximately 70,812 gallons of oily water mixture.
The US coast guard says the amount of oil discharged is still unknown at this time.
Responders will maintain ongoing wildlife and shoreline assessments to monitor impacts and protective measures, with shoreline clean up assessment technique teams prioritizing sensitive habitats.
“Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work. 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,” said Capt. Greg Callaghan, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal on Scene Coordinator.
As it is reported, aerial surveys are ongoing, and air monitoring has not indicated any immediate concerns in the response area.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. Reports of impacted wildlife should go to the Wildlife Hotline phone number.
