Skytruth Alerts: Shell reports spillling nearly 5000 gallons of drilling mud into the Gulf of Mexico on July 31

SkyTruth Alerts: Shell reported spilling nearly 5000 gallons of drilling mud into the Gulf on July 31:
http://alerts.skytruth.org/report?id=68c9de7b-cb72-3fd1-9f72-11b1f2edc64d

This is in very deep water (>7800′), the Perdido field in Alaminos Canyon Block 859 about 150 miles off the TX coast right near the EEZ boundary. Perdido is actually a cluster of separate fields that will all be jointly produced from a massive floating spar.

And yes, Perido does indeed mean “lost.” – John
—
John Amos – President, SkyTruth
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
(o) 304.885.4581 (m) 304.260.8886
skype: skytruth.amos

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http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard_web+inc_seq=984448

NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER 1-800-424-8802
*** For Public Use ***
Information released to a third party shall comply with any
applicable federal and/or state Freedom of Information and Privacy Laws

Incident Report # 984448

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION
*Report taken at 18:02 on 31-JUL-11

Incident Type: VESSEL

Incident Cause: OPERATOR ERROR
Affected Area: GULF OF MEXICO

The incident was discovered on 31-JUL-11 at 15:30 local time.

Affected Medium: WATER GULF OF MEXICO

____________________________________________________________________________

SUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY

Organization: SHELL INTERNATIONAL

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70161

Type of Organization: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

____________________________________________________________________________

INCIDENT LOCATION

BLOCK 859 County: ALAMINOS CANYON AREA
State: TX

____________________________________________________________________________

RELEASED MATERIAL(S)

CHRIS Code: DRM Official Material Name: DRILLING MUD (LOW TOXICITY)

Also Known As:

Qty Released: 117 BARREL(S) Qty in Water: 117 BARREL(S)

____________________________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

THE CALLER STATED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SYNTHETIC MUD WAS PUMPED OVERBOARD FROM A PERMITTED DISCHARGE POINT INSTEAD OF SEAWATER AFTER NOTICING A DISCREPANCY OF 117 BBLS OF MUD.

____________________________________________________________________________

INCIDENT DETAILS

Platform Rig Name:
Platform Letter:
Location Area ID:
Location Block ID:
OCSG Number:
OCSP Number:
State Lease Number:
Pier Dock Number:
Berth Slip Number:

—WATER INFORMATION—
Body of Water: GULF OF MEXICO
Tributary of:
Nearest River Mile Marker:
Water Supply Contaminated: NO

—VESSEL INFORMATION—
Name: NOBLE DANNY Number: Aground: NO
Flag:
Length: Breadth: Draught:
Type: DRILLING RIG
Hull Construction:
Fuel Capacity:
Fuel on Board:
Cargo Capacity:
Cargo on Board:

____________________________________________________________________________

DAMAGES

Fire Involved: NO Fire Extinguished: UNKNOWN

INJURIES:

Hospitalized:

Empl/Crew:

Passenger:

FATALITIES:

Empl/Crew:

Passenger:

Occupant:

EVACUATIONS:

Who Evacuated:

Radius/Area:

Damages:

Length of

Direction of

Closure Type

Description of Closure

Closure

Air:

Road:

Major Artery:

Waterway:

Track:

Passengers Transferred: NO

Environmental Impact: UNKNOWN

Media Interest: NONE Community Impact due to Material:

____________________________________________________________________________

REMEDIAL ACTIONS

SECURED DISCHARGE POINT.

Release Secured: YES
Release Rate:
Estimated Release Duration:

____________________________________________________________________________

WEATHER

Weather: CLEAR, ºF Wind speed: 11 KNTS

Wave Condition: 2 SLIGHT (1 – 3 FT)

____________________________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL AGENCIES NOTIFIED

Federal:

NONE

State/Local:

NONE

State/Local On Scene:

NONE

State Agency Number:

NONE

____________________________________________________________________________

NOTIFICATIONS BY NRC

CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPT (CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT)

31-JUL-11