Oil spill reported in Gulf of Mexico
{{date|December 26, 2006}}

[[Image:GulfofMexico3D.png|right|200px|thumb|3D Image of the Gulf of Mexico.]] At least 21,000 gallons of {{w|crude oil}} has spilled into the {{w|Gulf of Mexico}} near the [[United States]] mainland coast, about 30 miles off the shore of {{w|Galveston, Texas|Galveston}}, [[Texas]]. The {{w|United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard}} says that oil is still leaking at a rate of 80 to 400 gallons a day.

The High Island Pipeline began to leak on Sunday and was immediately shut down when a pressure loss was detected. The pipeline is owned by {{w|Plains All American Pipeline}} who state that the incident is "under investigation" and that officials are working to "minimize the impact of the incident."

"A medium crude oil pipeline ruptured 30 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, and leaked approximately 21,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, December 24," said a press release by Coast Guard.

"There's a 60-yard-wide oil sheen that extends for about half a mile. It is still leaking slowly, about 80 to 400 gallons a day," added the Coast Guard.

Reports say that the oil is traveling away from any shoreline and that remaining oil is being suctioned out of the pipeline. Ships in the area have not been diverted.

"All appropriate agencies have been notified. Plains, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Texas General Land Office are working within a unified command system consisting of Federal and state agencies and oil spill response organizations to manage and mitigate this incident. In addition, Plains has activated its spill response plan to contain and clean up the spill. At present, Plains has mobilized Airborne Support, Inc., Clean Gulf Associates and other additional resources in an effort to minimize the consequences of the incident," said a press release by the Plains oil company.

So far, no injuries have been reported.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-12-26T185529Z_01_N26289274_RTRUKOC_0_US-PIPELINE-OPERATIONS-PLAINS.xml&WTmodLoc=SciNewsHome_C2_scienceNews-1
|title=Pipe leak in Gulf of Mexico leaves half-mile slick
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=December 26, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5858867&nav=0nqx
|title=Pipeline rupture pours oil into Gulf of Mexico
|author=
|pub=KPLC-TV
|date=December 26, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=173946
|title=Ruptured pipeline spills 21,000 gallons of oil into Gulf of Mexico off Texas coast
|author=Associted Press
|pub=Boston Herald
|date=December 26, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=marketsNews&storyID=2006-12-26T183535Z_01_WEN1600_RTRIDST_0_PIPELINE-OPERATIONS-PLAINS-COMMENT-URGENT.XML
|title=Plains confirms crude oil leak from offshore pipe
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=December 26, 2006}}

==External links==
*{{source|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-26-2006/0004496790&EDATE=
|title=Plains All American Comments on Gulf of Mexico Pipeline Release
|author=
|pub=PR Newswire (press release)
|date=December 26, 2006}}

{{publish}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Gulf of Mexico]]
[[Category:Galveston, Texas]]
[[Category:Oil spills]]
3D Image of the Gulf of Mexico. At least 21,000 gallons of Gulf of Mexico near the United States mainland coast, about 30 miles off the shore of Galveston, Texas. The U.S. Coast Guard says that oil is still leaking at a rate of 80 to 400 gallons a day.

The High Island Pipeline began to leak on Sunday and was immediately shut down when a pressure loss was detected. The pipeline is owned by  who state that the incident is "under investigation" and that officials are working to "minimize the impact of the incident."

"A medium crude oil pipeline ruptured 30 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, and leaked approximately 21,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, December 24," said a press release by Coast Guard.

"There's a 60-yard-wide oil sheen that extends for about half a mile. It is still leaking slowly, about 80 to 400 gallons a day," added the Coast Guard.

Reports say that the oil is traveling away from any shoreline and that remaining oil is being suctioned out of the pipeline. Ships in the area have not been diverted.

"All appropriate agencies have been notified. Plains, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Texas General Land Office are working within a unified command system consisting of Federal and state agencies and oil spill response organizations to manage and mitigate this incident. In addition, Plains has activated its spill response plan to contain and clean up the spill. At present, Plains has mobilized Airborne Support, Inc., Clean Gulf Associates and other additional resources in an effort to minimize the consequences of the incident," said a press release by the Plains oil company.

So far, no injuries have been reported.

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Disasters and accidents North America United States Texas Gulf of Mexico Galveston, Texas Oil spills