U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Office: well59response@gmail.com
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NEW ORLEANS — The Unified Command, consisting of the Coast Guard, Spectrum OpCo, LLC (Operator), and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), continue to respond to mitigate public safety and environmental threats from an oil and natural gas release in coastal Louisiana.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report of a discharge of crude oil and natural gas from the shut-in Well #59 at Operator’s Garden Island Bay Production Facility.
As of 11:00 a.m., the Unified Command has nearly 100 responders actively supporting this effort. This includes the deployment of 4 MARCO skimmers, 4 drum skimmers, and a variety of recovery storage equipment. Boom deployment is also in progress, with 4,300 feet of 18” containment boom already in place and 10,000 feet more on standby. Responders have also deployed 163 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands. To date, Oil Spill Removal Organizations have recovered an approximate total of 2,394 gallons of oily liquids.
Flow rate and current amount discharged are still unknown at this time. A well control contractor is on-scene and conducting source intervention and control operations. Aerial surveys are ongoing through both drone and helicopter overflights, and air monitoring has not indicated any immediate concerns in the response area. Additionally, for safety purposes, a temporary flight restriction has been put in place for a two-mile radius up to 2,000 feet.
There have been no reports or observations of impacted wildlife. Mariners are encouraged to report any observations of oil to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802 and any observation of impacted wildlife to Wildlife Hotline Phone Number at 832-514-9663.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Media should direct inquiries to well59response@gmail.com.
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