Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: June 11, 2007 (009-07)

Contact: Public Affairs Officer,
Marine Safety Unit Morgan City, LA(985) 380-5320

UNCONTROLLED WELLHEAD RELEASE

Morgan City, LA - On 11 June 07 the National Response Center received a report of a uncontrolled wellhead release occurring at approximately 10:30 a.m., in a remote, dead-end canal off of Freshwater Bayou or approximately 4 miles due East of the Freshwater Bayou Locks, near Freshwater City, LA.

No injuries have been confirmed and although the source of the spill has not been secured, primary and secondary containment boom is in place and the affected canal has been isolated. The exact amount or rate of discharge is yet to be determined, however, it is estimated that the maximum discharge amount is 1,000 barrels or 42,000 gallons of oil-based drilling mud and salt water.  

Numerous response personnel and their accompanying assets are on-scene or en route, including the owner-operator, Nexen Petroleum, 12790 Merrit Hwy, Suite 800, Dallas, TX, the spill contractor and spill management teams, and several state and federal agencies, including the U. S. Coast Guard.

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