Coast Guard Checking Oil Slick In the Gulf of Mexico
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard is investigating reports of an oil slick near wells operated by Shell Oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy McClure said Thursday that a Coast Guard helicopter has been dispatched to the scene, approximately 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, to check out what has been described as a 10-mile long, half-mile wide sheen.
In a statement, Shell said it is “confident at this time that the sheen did not originate from” its properties, and that a “thorough inspection” of its local assets found that “operations in the area are normal with no sign of leaks.”
“We have also confirmed there are no well control issues associated with our drilling operations in the area,” the statement continued.
“Shell is continuing to cooperate with federal regulators in their efforts to determine the cause and nature of the sheen,” the company said.
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