Pipeline Break Produces Worst Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Since Deepwater Horizon

EcoWatch is reporting a 393,000-gallon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the region’s biggest since the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010.

The 7,950- to 9,350-barrel spill came from a fractured pipeline at a floating production facility southeast of Venice, Louisiana owned by offshore oil and gas operator LLOG Exploration.

The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said no injuries or shoreline impacts had been reported, and a five-member inspection team would look into the incident.

“BSEE places great emphasis on making certain all oil and gas operations on America’s Outer Continental Shelf are safe,” said Gulf of Mexico Region Director Lars Herbst. “This panel investigation is a critical step in ensuring BSEE determines the cause, or causes, of the incident and develops recommendations to prevent similar events from occurring in the future.”