Approximately 3,000 barrels of crude oil have spilled offshore the coast of California, USA due to a rupture in an underwater pipeline.
Cleanup crews are responding to a major oil spill off the coast of Orange County, California, USA. According to reports from the U.S. Coast Guard, the spill covers an area of about 25 square miles and is washing ashore on several beaches in the area. The Coast Guard received initial reports of an oil slick off Newport Beach on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Authorities deployed aircraft to monitor the extent of the spill, with support from the Huntington Beach Police Department for response and oversight of the oil spill incident. Local officials stated that the oil spill originated from an underwater pipeline from the aging Elly oil platform, located in the Beta oil field off the coast of Orange County. The pipeline rupture has released approximately 125,000 gallons (3,000 barrels) of crude oil into the ocean, more than the amount spilled during the Cosco Busan incident in 2007.
The Elly and Ellen oil rigs are operated by Beta Offshore, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy Corporation. According to Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, by early Sunday morning, the pipeline had been partially repaired but was still leaking oil. Repair efforts are ongoing. Impacts on wildlife have been reported, with oil having infiltrated the Talbert Wetlands area, and Huntington Beach has been deployed to protect a nearby ecological reserve. Beta Operating Company, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy and the pipeline operator, has been charged with over 100 violations by federal regulators in the past 11 years, according to CNN. The oil spill is expected to affect approximately 25 miles of coastline, including Huntington Beach and the pier adjacent to Newport Beach. Residents have been warned to stay away from the affected areas to allow professional response teams to clean up, avoid swimming, and cease fishing due to the toxic nature of the spill.
“Unfortunately, the impact of this oil spill incident requires everyone to stay away from the ocean and avoid contact with the oil. The top priority of the City is to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors during the cleanup process,” said Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery. Cleanup and recovery efforts are underway. Today, 3,000 gallons of oily water mixture have been recovered; nine vessels have been deployed to assist with the oil spill response operations. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continue to operate without being affected by the oil spill. Source: splash & “Offshore Oil Spill Fouls Beaches and Wetlands in Orange County”
