U.S. officials said on Nov. 21 seven energy companies have been impacted by an oil discharge near Main Pass Oil Gathering Co.'s (MPOG) pipeline system in the Gulf of Mexico that is estimated to have released more than a million gallons of crude oil.
The 67-mile long pipeline was closed by MPOG on the morning of Nov. 16 after crude oil was spotted around 19 miles offshore of the Mississippi River delta, near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans.
"Seven producers affected and those producers are currently shut in," Bryan Domangue of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said during a press briefing.
Officials said investigations and surveys were ongoing to determine the source of the discharge, but added that there were no reported injuries or shoreline impacts so far.
There has been no impact on vessels and the waterway remains open to all commercial and recreational vessel traffic, officials said.
While the exact volume of discharged oil was not known, the Coast Guard, which was leading the clean up, said initial calculations placed the volume of the leak at 1.1 million gallons or 26,190 bbl.
"We're not saying that was the exact amount. We are not going to know the exact amount of oil that was discharged into the Gulf of Mexico until we find the source," said Captain Kelly Denning, deputy commander, sector New Orleans.
The officials also said it was yet to be established if Third Coast Infrastructure, which owns MPOG, is responsible for the spill.
"They're suspected responsible party but we won't know until we find the source which is why we keep referring to them as the responding party," said Denning.
Recommended Reading
Oil and Gas Chain Reaction: E&P M&A Begets OFS Consolidation
2024-04-26 - Record-breaking E&P consolidation is rippling into oilfield services, with much more M&A on the way.
E&P Earnings Season Proves Up Stronger Efficiencies, Profits
2024-04-04 - The 2024 outlook for E&Ps largely surprises to the upside with conservative budgets and steady volumes.
Valaris’ 1Q Sets Positive Tone for Offshore
2024-05-06 - Coming out of first-quarter 2024, drilling contractor Valaris expects a sustained upcycle for the offshore drilling industry supported by demand growth, OPEC+ production cuts and supportive commodity prices.
Range Resources Holds Production Steady in 1Q 2024
2024-04-24 - NGLs are providing a boost for Range Resources as the company waits for natural gas demand to rebound.
CEO: Coterra ‘Deeply Curious’ on M&A Amid E&P Consolidation Wave
2024-02-26 - Coterra Energy has yet to get in on the large-scale M&A wave sweeping across the Lower 48—but CEO Tom Jorden said Coterra is keeping an eye on acquisition opportunities.