Oil leaks at Shell’s Gulf of Mexico field. Production shut

Shell has shut production from its oil platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana following an oil leak.

Federal regulator the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on Thursday said it was responding to a two mile by thirteen mile sheen in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, LA.

According to BSEE the offshore oil and gas operator, Shell Offshore Inc., reported that a sheen was observed in the area of its Glider Field, a group of four subsea wells located in Green Canyon Block 248. The production from these four wells flows through a subsea manifold to Shell’s Brutus platform located in 2,900 feet of water.

Shell reported that production from all wells that flow to the Brutus platform have been shut-in. There are no injuries reported and no personnel have been evacuated. The total subsea release from the four wells is estimated to be 2,100 barrels of oil, BSEE said.

Shell estimates that 2100 barrels of oil were released. There are no drilling activities at Brutus, and this is not a well control incident, Shell said in a statement.

“Shell is determining the exact cause of the release by inspecting the subsea equipment and flowlines in the Glider field. The company has made all appropriate regulatory notifications and mobilized response vessels, including aircraft, in the event the discharge is recoverable. There are no injuries. No release is acceptable, and safety remains our priority as we respond to this incident,” Shell added.

A BSEE inspector conducted an overflight of the area and is currently on location at the Brutus platform. BSEE will lead the incident investigation.

According to the Coast Guard, Marine Spill Response Corporation and Clean Gulf Associates have been contracted by Shell to begin clean up and containment operations.

A Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew is conducting an aerial assessment of the site and surrounding areas.

Offshore Energy Today Staff