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LONDON (Alliance News) - Royal Dutch Shell PLC on Friday said it estimates around 2,100 barrels of oil have leaked from its subsea wells in the Gulf of Mexico, forcing the oil giant to shut-in production from four wells that flow to the company's Brutus platform.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which is based close by in New Orleans, said the oil sheen is around two miles by thirteen miles in size and around 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, which is Louisiana's most southern port.
A subsidiary of the oil major, Shell Offshore Inc, reported the incident to authorities after noticing the leak in the area of its Glider Field, a group of four subsea wells located in Green Canyon Block 248.
The production from those wells flows through a subsea manifold to Shell's Brutus platform, but all of those wells are now shut-in. Importantly, no injuries have been reported and no evacuaion activities have been necessary.
Shell Offshore, in its own statement, said "no release is acceptable" but stressed there is no drilling in the area and that the matter is not a "well control incident," suggesting the leak will not get any larger.
"Shell is determining the exact cause of the release by inspecting the subsea equipment and flowlines in the Glider field. The company has made all appropriate regulatory notifications and mobilized response vessels, including aircraft, in the event the discharge is recoverable," said Shell.
"A BSEE inspector conducted an overflight of the area and is currently on location at the Brutus platform. BSEE will lead the incident investigation," said the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
In 2010, BP PLC suffered a huge oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico following an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that was on the Macondo prospect. This has so far cost BP around USD55.50 billion to rectify and settle.
By Joshua Warner; joshuawarner@alliancenews.com; @JoshAlliance
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