There has been some product released that has reached the shore of La. (Grand Isle-Fourchon area). The source appears to be a platform that had previously been damaged due to a hurricane off the La. coast. The platform may have started releasing product around March 18th. The owner of the platform has crews on site working to plug and abandon the well (think cutting riser pipes, plugging, and domes). The release is estimated to be around a barrel of oil an hour (around 42 gallons/hr). Although the product appears to be Louisiana Sweet Crude, preliminary results indicate that the product is not from the DWH Macondo 252 Well (BP Spill). Further testing by the USCG is being conducted to try and fully determine the source. A "potentially" Responsible Party has been identified, but further testing, etc. has to be conducted before the USCG can fully determine who the Responsible Party is. That being said, the currently identified "potentially" Responsible Party has hired contractors to respond to the response. In turn, if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's probably going to be a duck.
The last I was advised, the product that has reached shore has been minimal and is not expected to impact any areas in my Area of Response, which goes to the Miss./La. line.
Now if the wind will lay down, I'll be looking for oil (from fish) tomorrow behind SGI.
Take Care,
Chris
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