The US Coast Guard has partially taken over response operations to contain an oil discharge from the site of the collapsed Mississippi Canyon Block 20 (MC20) offshore platform 11 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
USCG will now access the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and assume authority for containing and disposing the oil.
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In November, the US Coast Guard contracted a specialized team to carry out a comprehensive site survey, create a containment system, and install it at the source to start collecting the oil.
Currently, the team is in the planning phase. Weather and sea state will impact operations, which will involve cumulative weeks at sea, extensive dive and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations, and underwater equipment installation.
Commenting on the situation, US Coast Guard Capt. Kristi Luttrell, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) for the MC20 response, said that the plan is to leverage every weather window available from now until the system is installed and collecting oil. However, the safety of response personnel will be a key priority.
The MC20 platform, owned by Taylor Energy, LLC, toppled in September 2004 during Hurricane Ivan after storm surge caused an underwater mudslide. The platform’s well conductor pipes were buried in more than 100 feet of mud and sediment. Since then, federal officials have ordered Taylor Energy to remove the platform deck, remove sub-sea debris, decommission the oil pipeline, attempt to contain the leaking oil, and plug nine of the 25 impacted wells that were deemed highest risk.
After several scientific studies over the years, the FOSC required Taylor Energy to propose a final viable plan to install a containment system. In November, the FOSC issued Taylor Energy a Notice of Federal Assumption, and claimed authority for containing the oil.
As we move swiftly to develop and install the containment system, we will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure a permanent solution is in place
Ms. Luttrell concuded.
