As tank platform falls, thousands of crude oil gallons hit Louisiana waters

Following the collapse of an oil tank platform in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, the U.S. Coast Guard has been called to respond to the oil spill, which was caused by this incident.

The Coast Guard responded to an oil spill on Monday after an oil tank platform collapsed at the Hilcorp Caillou Island facility in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana. 

Initially, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Houma personnel received a notification from the National Response Center stating the platform experienced a structural failure causing a tank to fall into the water and spill the oil.

The Coast Guard explains that Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services has been hired as the oil spill removal organization while current response actions include 4,500 feet of containment boom, three skimming vessels, and five response vessels on scene.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issued a public health notice on 10 August 2022, adding that the cleanup of the oil spill and environmental monitoring was ongoing. In addition, the LHD also closed some state molluscan shellfish growing waters on the same date as a precaution due to this oil spill.

Furthermore, while there have been no reports of impact on wildlife at this time, the Houston-based company, Hilcorp, estimates less than 14,000 gallons of crude oil entered the water. As the exact cause of the incident is still not confirmed, this is currently under investigation.