Gulf Crisis Unveiled: In the quest to uncover the origins of a significant oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard continues its search for the source of a breach in an underwater pipeline off the Louisiana coast. The estimated release exceeds a staggering one million gallons of crude oil.
Main Pass Oil Gathering Co (MPOG) took swift action, shutting down the 67-mile long pipeline on Thursday morning upon detecting crude oil around 19 miles offshore of the Mississippi River Delta, near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans. “Overflight teams observed visible oil Friday moving southwest away from the Louisiana shore,” reported the Coast Guard. Concurrently, efforts to recover oil persist, with underwater devices deployed to survey the pipeline and pinpoint the elusive leak.
While the precise volume of discharged oil remains unknown, initial engineering calculations by the Coast Guard, overseeing the cleanup, suggest a substantial 1.1 million gallons, equivalent to 26,190 barrels.
Also Read: Oil Market Balancing Act: OPEC+ Weighs Deeper Cuts Amidst Geopolitical Turbulence
As of now, no injuries or shoreline impacts have been reported, and the cause of the leak is subject to a thorough investigation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed on Friday that the Coast Guard activated the National Response Team, a coalition of 15 federal entities tasked with coordinating responses to oil pollution incidents.
Third Coast Infrastructure, the entity owning MPOG, has chosen to remain silent on the matter, declining to comment on Friday and redirecting inquiries to the Coast Guard. The unfolding situation raises environmental concerns, prompting heightened cleanup efforts and a collaborative effort to unearth the circumstances surrounding this substantial oil spill.
Our Reader’s Queries
Why did the US invade Iraq in 1991?
During the Cold War, Iraq was aligned with the Soviet Union, which created tension between Iraq and the United States. The US was particularly worried about Iraq’s stance on Israeli-Palestinian relations.
What was the pretext for the Gulf war of 1990?
Iraq accused Kuwait of building military and oil facilities on Iraqi land while Iraq was focused on the Iran-Iraq war. As a result, Iraq demanded that Kuwait forgive its debt obligations. However, Kuwait denied these allegations and claimed that Iraq’s demands were baseless.
What happened in the Gulf crisis?
Following the invasion of Kuwait, Iraq faced severe consequences including a United Nations Security Council embargo and sanctions. The U.S.-led coalition launched an air and ground war on January 16, 1991, which ultimately led to Iraq’s defeat and retreat from Kuwait on February 28, 1991.
How long did Desert Shield last before Desert Storm?
The war was divided into two phases. The first phase, known as Operation Desert Shield, took place from August 2, 1990 to January 17, 1991. This phase focused on building up troops and defending Saudi Arabia. The second phase, Operation Desert Storm, occurred from January 17, 1991 to February 28, 1991 and was the combat phase of the war.