The next 18 summaries are related to Hurricane Rita which made landfall near Morgan City, LA on September 24, 2005

Formal investigations were not conducted, Hurricane Rita pollution volumes are generally operators' estimates of petroleum products (and in some cases chemicals) stored in/on structure prior to storm which had not been recovered as of Spring 2006. Some of these products may have been subsequently recovered.

1. September 24, 2005 – Chevron U.S.A., Inc.

Remarks: The East Cameron 272A 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 66.7 bbl of petroleum and 1.2 bbl of chemicals on board, all of which has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 773714

2. & 3. September 24, 2005 – Pioneer Natural Resources

& October Through December, 2005

Remarks: The East Cameron 322A 8-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 659.4 bbl of petroleum and 65.6 bbl of chemicals on board. All 725 bbl has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

The platform has since been a source of chronic or intermittent leaks through Spring 2007. Pioneer is monitoring the platform and filing daily reports with MMS. The operator reported approximately 53.4 bbl lost in chronic land intermittent leaks from October through December 2005. This 53.4 bbl is identified as a second entry at the end of these 2005 Hurricane Rita Narratives for spills > 50 barrels.

The 725 bbl lost at the time of the hurricane, plus 53.4 bbl of chronic pollution in the fourth quarter of 2005 total to 778.4 bbl in 2005.

Throughout 2006, there was an additional loss of approximately 142.8 bbl of crude oil in intermittent releases. Pioneer had begun the process of clearing debris and plugging abandoning the wells. The 142.8 bbl in 2006 was distributed: 14.6 bbl January-March, 41.1 bbl April-June, 35.6 bbl July-September, 51.5 bbl October-December. This 142.8 bbl is identified in the 2006 Narratives for spills > 50 barrels in the Gulf of Mexico.

An additional 52.9 bbl was reported in 2007. The 52.9 bbl were distributed: 16.9 bbl January-March, 30.4 bbl April-June, 4.7 bbl July-September, 1.0 bbl October-December.

Seepage was accounted by calendar quarters where any quarter for which seepage accumulated to at least one barrel has been included as a spill.

The initial loss during the hurricane was 725 bbl. Subsequent seepage from October 2005 through June 15, 2008 was 249.1 bbl. This was counted as three spills of 50 bbl or more: 725 bbl during the hurricane, 53.4 bbl in 4th Quarter 2005, 51.5 bbl in 4th Quarter 2006.

* includes chronic seepage totaling to at least on barrel in a calendar quarter. ** includes 65.62 bbl of chemicals lost during Hurricane Rita

Hurricane NRC Reports: 773825 & 773940

4th Quarter 2005 NRC Report: 779118

4th Quarter 2006 NRC Report: 810770

4. September 24, 2005 – Gulf South Pipeline Company

Remarks: The damage located in EI 43 to segment #1844, a 242 foot long, 14x4-inch gas pipeline subsea tie-in originating in the Eugene Island 51 area, is suspected to have been caused by impact from a drifting vessel or vessel mooring during Hurricane Rita. The pipeline was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valve held which limited oil loss to that contained in the damaged segment. A second segment, #4754, a 10x10-inch gas pipeline subsea tie-in was similarly damaged in the Eugene Island 95 area. It is unknown as to what percent capacity these pipelines were operating at prior to Hurricane Rita as there are 9 separate injection points on these two phase pipelines that terminate at Gulf South Pipeline's Burns Point Facility.

Precise spill volumes cannot be determined for the two gas/condensate segments that terminate at the Gulf South Pipeline's Burns Point Facility that were damaged during Hurricane Rita. Specifically, it would be difficult to estimate the amount of liquid build up (condensate) in the pipelines just prior to the leaks. “Worst Case” estimates based on 100% operating capacity and 100% loss would have been on the order of 3,000 barrels of condensate for each pipeline segment. With the information available in early 2006, MMS was able to determine that even 50% of the "worst case" estimate would generate a significant overestimate of condensate losses. MMS was conservative in adopting the 1,812 and 1,551 barrel condensate loss estimates for the two segments at that time. In July 2007, MMS was able to review the details of the specific structural damage to each pipeline segment along with other new information and determined that the two 1,000-plus barrel spill volumes were gross overestimates of actual condensate losses. Based on this review, the condensate spill estimates were reduced to 100 barrels and 1 (one) barrel respectively.

Factors taken into consideration to arrive at these new estimates:

A more detailed look at the actual leaks, including pictures and information on the size of the leaks, the location of the leak on the middle or top part of the pipelines (with condensate at the bottom), the very low gas flow rate that would have escaped through the leak area, production prior to and after the leaks, the level terrain of the pipelines, and details on the repairs.  

The pipelines had been pigged approximately one month before Hurricane Rita which would have removed all of the condensate in the pipelines at the time of pigging. There was about one month of production after the pigging before the pipelines were shut-in for Hurricane Rita. During that month, most of the condensate would have been swept through to sales along with the natural gas, but some condensate would have begun to build up in the pipeline.  

Production was shut-in prior to Hurricane Rita so there was no flow at the time the segments were damaged. The condensate in the lines would have settled to the bottom of the pipeline due to the no flow at the time of the leak and because both segments were on fairly level terrain. With the pipeline shut-in the natural gas velocity would have been so slow that very little condensate could have escaped with the natural gas through the small gap (segment #1844), and it is unlikely that any condensate could have escaped with the natural gas through the small crack (segment #4754).  

Despite the significant level of over flight activity after Hurricane Rita and dozens of NRC reports for locations elsewhere within the Eugene Island Area (10 for the Forest Oil EI 314J platform that lost 2,000 bbl) after Hurricane Rita -- there were no NRC reports of sheens coming from the EI 43 or the EI 95 areas.  

From the production reports before and after Hurricane Rita it is not obvious there was any significant condensate loss. Also, shortly after the pipelines were put back in service in early 2006 the pipelines were pigged again and were found to have a considerable amount of condensate.  

The structural damage to segment #1844 was a gap created by a separation in the 4” pipeline hot tap connection on the center of the pipeline extending approximately 25% of the circumference of the 4” pipeline. With the gap being on the upper portion of the pipeline, and the condensate settled to the bottom of the pipeline, it was unlikely that much condensate would have escaped with the gas given the low flow rate and velocity of the gas that would have escaped through this size gap. Thus it is concluded that the volume of condensate lost from segment #1844 was less than 100 barrels.  

The structural damage to segment #4754 was a small crack in the flange weld of a tee with less than ¼” gap in width. Considering the small size of the crack, the crack’s positioning (2-4 o’clock position), and the condensate settled on the bottom of the pipe, it was determined that only a negligible amount of condensate could have escaped with the gas given the low gas flow rate and velocity of the gas that would have escaped through this small crack. Thus it is concluded that the volume of condensate lost, if any, would have been less than one barrel.

* In earlier documents, pipeline segment #1844 was identified as being located in Eugene Island Block 51. Segment #1844 originates in Eugene Island 51. Segment #1844 lies across several other Eugene Island lease blocks and the actual damage to the segment was physically located in Eugene Island Block 43.

NRC Report: 773684

5. September 24, 2005 – B.T. Operating Company

Remarks: The Eugene Island 294A 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 76.6 bbl of petroleum and 4.6 bbl of chemicals on board, all of which has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 774009

6. September 24, 2005 – Forest Oil Corporation

Remarks: The Eugene Island 314J 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses. Holes were discovered in the conductor strings for wells A-2 and A-3. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 2,000 bbl of condensate on board or in the riser, all of which has been assumed to have been lost in 2005 (some of which may have actually been recovered). A pollution dome was installed soon after Hurricane Rita to contain and collect chronic leakage. An additional 12.1 bbl of seepage was reported in February 2006 (see second NRC report) does not meet the 50 bbl threshold for including in the 2006 pollution incident of 50 bbl or more totals.

NRC Report: 776318

NRC Report: 787130

7. October through December 2005 – Forest Oil Corporation

Remarks: The Eugene Island 314F 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses. No spillage was reported during the hurricane.

Approximately 165.6 bbl seepage was observed in the 4th quarter of 2005 (October to December 2005).

An additional 50.6 bbl of seepage was reported over the first quarter of 2006 between January and March which is included in the 2006 pollution incidents of 50 bbl or more totals.

2005 NRC Report: 776318

2006 NRC Report: 787130

8. September 24, 2005 – Devon Energy Production Company L.P.

Remarks: The Eugene Island 330S 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 181 bbl of petroleum and 78 bbl of chemicals on board, all of which has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 775472

9. September 24, 2005 – Devon Energy Production Company L.P.

Remarks: The Eugene Island 333A 8-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 188 bbl of petroleum and 37 bbl of chemicals on board, all of which has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 774084

10. September 24, 2005 – W & T Offshore, Inc.

Remarks: The crude oil storage tank on the Eugene Island 397A 3-pile fixed platform was damaged and cracked during Hurricane Rita. Approximately 100.8 bbl of crude oil, the volume in the tank prior to the storm, was lost.

NRC Report: 774211

11. September 24, 2005 – Chevron U.S.A., Inc.

Remarks: The Green Canyon 237A - Typhoon mini tension leg platform (MTLP) was inverted and destroyed during Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 1,241.2 bbl of petroleum on board the platform of which approximately 627 bbl were recovered (492 bbl of crude oil, 119 bbl of diesel, and 16 bbl of lube oil were recovered). Approximately 614.2 bbl of petroleum and 489.7 bbl of chemicals that were on board the platform have been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 773703

12. September 24, 2005 – Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc.

Remarks: A section of 9,764 foot long 4-inch oil pipeline riser segment #5902 (a DOI-regulated pipeline) broke loose from the Ship Shoal 248D fixed platform during Hurricane Rita. The pipeline was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valve held which limited oil loss to that contained in the damaged segment. Approximately 75 bbl of crude oil was estimated to have been lost.

NRC Report: NONE

13. September 24, 2005 – Remington Oil & Gas Corporation

Remarks: The Rowan Odessa jack-up rig's legs collapsed and the hull floated off location during Hurricane Rita. The hull was located after the hurricane in Ship Shoal 247, six miles from the Rowan Odessa's pre-storm location in Ship Shoal 250. At the time of the hurricane, there were approximately 1,819 bbl of petroleum on board in secured vessels. Extensive recovery operations by Rowan Companies in the Spring and Summer of 2006 resulted in the recovery of roughly 221.1 bbl of diesel oil and 26.2 bbl of other refined products. An estimated 1,571.7 bbl of petroleum products were lost.

NRC Report: 773774

14. September 24, 2005 – Devon Energy Production Company L.P.

Remarks: The South Marsh Island 128A-PRD 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. The platform was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valves held which limited oil losses to that which was stored on the structure. At the time of the hurricane, there was approximately 27.8 bbl of petroleum and 27 bbl of chemicals on board, all of which has been assumed to have been lost (some of which may have actually been recovered).

NRC Report: 775639

15. September 24, 2005 – Hunt Petroleum (AEC), Inc.

Remarks: The Rowan Ft. Worth jack-up rig's legs collapsed and the hull floated off location during Hurricane Rita. Prior to the storm, the Rowan Ft. Worth was located at the South Marsh Island 146B 3-pile fixed platform. The hull was never located even though more than 1,200 square miles were searched as of July 2006. At the time of the hurricane, there were approximately 1,494 bbl of diesel oil on board in secured vessels.

NRC Report: 773865

16. August 29, 2005 – Shell Pipeline Company

Remarks: The 1,100 foot long 8-inch oil pipeline segment #3105 (a DOT-regulated pipeline) was associated with the Vermilion 255B 8-pile fixed platform which was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. Segment #3105 was found completely severed in the adjacent Vermilion 245 area by an anchor drag during Hurricane Rita (3 drag marks were identified). The pipeline was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valve held which limited oil loss to that contained in the damaged segment. The estimate of 862 bbl is a worst case estimate of 100% loss of 100% capacity for the segment.

(Note: this incident had previously been incorrectly identified as located in Vermilion 249 rather than Vermilion 255.)

NRC Report: 785663

17. August 29, 2005 – Shell Pipeline Company

Remarks: The 1,100 foot long 12-inch oil pipeline riser #11493 (a DOT-regulated pipeline) was severed when the Vermilion 255B 8-pile fixed platform was destroyed during Hurricane Rita. The pipeline was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valve held which limited oil loss to that contained in the damaged segment. An estimated 66.5 bbl of crude oil was lost.

NRC Report: 774056

18. August 29, 2005 – Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc.

Remarks: The 70 foot long 6-inch oil pipeline riser segment #5220 (a DOI-regulated pipeline) was severed when the Vermilion 313A 4-pile fixed platform was destroyed during Hurricane Rita. The pipeline was shut in prior to the storm and the subsea safety valve held which limited oil loss to that contained in the damaged segment. An estimated 108 bbl of crude oil was lost.

NRC Report: NONE

One barrel (bbl) equals 42 U.S. gallons (gal)