Pictures from Click2Houston:
This is yet another example of the importance of proper well plugging, platform removal, and decommissioning financial assurance. It’s noteworthy that Texas is among the states suing to block BOEM’s financial assurance rule for Federal waters. A serious collaborative Federal, State, and industry effort to address decommissioning issues is long, long overdue.
Key points from the Facebook post by State Representative Terri Leo Wilson (full post pasted below):
- 8 miles offshore Galveston County (TX State waters extend 3 marine leagues/9 nautical miles/10.35 statue miles offshore)
- flowline riser leaking natural gas and condensate (badly corroded platform)
- no recoverable oil
- abandoned platform
- additional research is needed to fully determine ownership of the leak source (???)
HIGH ISLAND BLOCK 98-L INCIDENT :
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is sharing the following information:
On Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 8:00 pm, the Oil Spill La Porte Office Response Officer received notification of a natural gas/oil discharge off the coast of Crystal Beach, Galveston County. The spill was reported to be from a platform in High Island Block 98-L, about eight miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil Spill personnel traveled via response boat to investigate on Monday morning and determined the discharge to be from a flowline riser leaking natural gas and condensate. Although the leak can be seen from the water, no recoverable oil was visible. The platform is abandoned, as defined by the Texas Railroad Commission, placing it within the Railroad Commission’s statutory authority for administration. The wells are not covered as part of the GLO’s current well plugging MOU with the Railroad Commission. The platform and associated wells are documented in the Oil Spill program’s abandoned well listings.
On Wednesday, July 17, La Porte office staff, with US Coast Guard and Railroad Commission personnel, inspected the platform area again. The leak is still present but has not increased. Railroad Commission staff stated that additional research is needed to fully determine ownership of the leak source.
The Coast Guard reports receiving a call from Channel 2-KPRC (NBC) in Houston regarding the leak and also seeing social media posts by a local area fishing group.
At this time: No injuries reported, No impact to commerce, No impact to wildlife.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 