Houston-based Talos Energy said in a statement that Clean Gulf Associates, a non-profit oil spill cooperative, reported a potential oil spill on Tuesday because it previously leased the oil block to Bay Marchand. on the coast of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. .
Talos began sending ships to the affected area on Wednesday and divers later discovered the damaged pipe and determined it did not belong to Talos Energy, the company said.
The pipeline “appears to be bent and open,” Talos Energy said.
Talos ended production in the area in 2017 and the infrastructure was removed from the site in 2019, according to the statement.
“The source of the release is not close to any of the plugged wells, nor to the former locations of Talos’ underwater infrastructure, ”Talos said.
Two 95-foot response vessels remained in situ on Sunday to aid in oil recovery, Talos told CNN.
“The pace of the launch appears to have slowed substantially in the last 48 hours and no black oil has been observed in the last 24 hours,” Talos said on Sunday. “So far no impact has been observed on the coast or wildlife,” according to the energy company.
Talos is working with the U.S. Coast Guard and other state and federal agencies to determine ownership of the damaged pipeline and organize a coordinated response to the spill, the company said.