Environmental Incident: Oil Spill and In Situ Burn in Houma, Louisiana

Overview of Oil Spill and In Situ Burn in Houma, Louisiana

A significant environmental incident occurred in Houma, Louisiana, when a test line operated by Whitney Oil & Gas LLC developed a leak, leading to the unintended release of crude oil and prompting immediate concern and response efforts. The leak resulted in a substantial discharge of crude oil into a sensitive marshland, potentially causing long-term damage to its rich biodiversity and crucial role in the local ecosystem. In response, environmental agencies selected in situ burning as the primary remediation method, due to its effectiveness in rapidly removing large quantities of oil with minimal ecological disruption, and coordinated efforts among federal and state agencies efficiently managed the situation.

Discovery and Initial Response

On March 6, a sheen was discovered near a well operated by Whitney Oil & Gas LLC in Houma, Louisiana. The source of the sheen was identified as a leak in a three-inch test line, which released an estimated 40-60 barrels of crude oil into the surrounding marsh flotant. The affected flotant, a buoyant mat of tightly entangled plants, roots, peat, paspalum, and wax myrtle, was significantly contaminated by the oil spill.

Assessment and Decision for In Situ Burn

The incident location was thoroughly assessed by representatives from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, and the US Coast Guard (USCG). After evaluating various response options, all parties concurred that an in situ burn would be the most effective and least damaging method to address the oil spill. In situ burning, a controlled burn of spilled oil at the spill's location, was deemed preferable to intrusive mechanical methods, which could cause further harm to the delicate marsh environment.

Coordination and Approval

Whitney Oil & Gas LLC formally requested the USCG Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) to consider approving the in situ burn. The proposal received concurrence from multiple agencies, including the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and relevant state authorities. The use of an accelerant to facilitate the burn was also approved, ensuring a swift and effective response to the spill.

Execution and Outcome of the In Situ Burn

On March 11, the in situ burn was successfully conducted, resulting in the removal of approximately 80% or more of the oil from the marsh. This method proved highly effective in mitigating the environmental impact, allowing natural recovery processes to begin much sooner compared to traditional cleanup techniques. The controlled burn minimized the risk of further damage to the marsh's sedimentation and vegetative root structures, which could have been adversely affected by manual recovery efforts.

Monitoring and Scientific Support

During the burn, the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) provided support through its Scientific Support Coordinator. They assisted with trade-off analysis and decision-making, ensuring the burn was conducted safely and effectively. Additionally, the Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART) program was employed to monitor the burn's progress and its impact on the environment, ensuring that all safety and environmental standards were upheld.

Source: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10752