The U.S. Coast Guard was responding to an oil spill Monday after an oil tank platform collapsed at Hilcorp’ Caillou Island offshore facility in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Houma personnel initially 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 oil.
Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services has been hired as the oil spill removal organization. The response actions as of Monday’s update included 4,500 feet of containment boom, three skimming vessels, and five response vessels on scene.
Hilcorp estimates less than 14,000 gallons of crude oil entered the water.
There have been no reports of impact to wildlife at this time and the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.
Hilcorp describes itself as one of the largest privately-held exploration and production companies in the U.S.
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