It was shortly after 1 PM on Monday when officials with the United States Coast Guard were alerted to a possible oil spill in the waters near Venice Louisiana. When officials with the Coast Guard arrived on the scene they noted there was a significant spill located near mile marker 10 on the Mississippi River.

The culprit for the leaking material was determined to be an abandoned wellhead that was owned and once operated by Hilcorp Energy. Hilcorp is headquartered in Houston Texas but has affiliate offices in Lafayette and Kaplan Louisiana.

In a press release, the Coast Guard announced these observations about the site in question.

Coast Guard members arrived on scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and reported an estimated 840 gallons of crude oil in the water. Hilcorp Energy reported that the source of oil was secured at approximately 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The report on the response to the spill was also included in the press briefing made public by the Coast Guard.

Boom, sorbent material, and skimming vessels are being used to reduce the spread of oil and collect oil from the water's surface. A Coast Guard overflight is scheduled for Wednesday, and officials said there were no reports of affected wildlife.

This is only the most recent incident attributed to Hilcorp Energy. The Coast Guard determined that one of the company's pipelines was responsible for a significant spill in Barataria Bay near Lake Grande Ecaille. The company is also facing accusations that pipelines operated by the company in Alaska have reported leaks as well.

 

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