Oil Spills from Out-Of-Service Wellhead

A crude oil spill that occurred in Tabbs Bay near Baytown, Texas, on Saturday has led to an estimated 630 gallons of crude oil being discharged from an out-of-service wellhead. 

One mile of shoreline is impacted and approximately 840 gallons of oily water has been collected.

Over 6,400-feet of boom has been deployed in three stages to contain the spill. Vacuum trucks and a floating drum skimmer are on-scene to collect and recover discharged crude oil and prevent impact to the Houston Ship Channel and the surrounding environment. Nearly 12,500-feet of absorbent material has been placed along the shoreline, and workboats are onsite to collect soiled absorbent boom.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Railroad Commission of Texas and are working to secure the source of the discharge. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Incident Management Division and Drone Team, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City, Texas General Land Office, Innovative Energy Services, Gaither Petroleum Corporation, the Railroad Commission of Texas, contracted oil spill removal organizations and Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel are involved in the response.

The cause of the discharge is under investigation.