Oil Well Leaking Natural Gas into Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana: Reports

The Coast Guard said Tuesday that natural gas is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

The Times-Picayune reported that the Coast Guard and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement were looking into a “loss of well control event” at Shoal Block 225 Platform B, which pumps natural gas and oil.

The platform is owned by Energy Resources Technology, according to Business Insider. The platform is located around 74 miles south of Port Fourchon.

The Coast Guard told gCaptain that “natural gas is flowing from the well and there is a rainbow sheen visible on the surface estimated to be more than four miles wide by three quarters of a mile long.”

Officials told the website that the platform is still leaking hydrocarbons.

“In an abundance of caution, we decided to evacuate the platform and mobilize our spill response team,” Talos Energy president Timothy Duncan told the FuelFix website. “We are focused on the safety of our personnel while taking all appropriate measures to limit any environmental impact.”

He added his team is “doing everything we can to have the well under control as soon as possible, which we expect to be within the next 24 hours.”

Website gCaptain pointed out that a complete loss of well control means that safety barriers failed to hold back pressurized flow of hydrocarbons.