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Ship Shoal Block 126

Important note concerning the NOAA "HOTLINE" Communications System: -  - Please note that
this system is used for NOAA internal communications and the reports are put in
chronologically.  There is NO corrective "post editing" of the reports.  As a result of
this, early reports may have information that later proved to be incorrect.  Sometimes
these errors are corrected in a later report, but sometimes corrections are made over the
phone or in-person, and no correcting message is entered.  This reflects the use of this
system as a real-time spill communications system and is not intended to be an event-log.
Please keep this in mind when reading HOTLINE reports for this incident.  -  - If you have
any problems with this system please contact the HAZMAT Duty Officer at 206-526-6317. -
Initial Notification - A crude oil spill has occurred from Platform Well no.2 in Ship
Shoal Block, Block # 126, approx. 22 nm offshore.  Actual time of spill is uncertain.  The
incident was discovered at 0830 CT, 17 DEC 1997. -  - Initial reports indicated that 170
-225 bbls of South Louisianna Crude oil had spilled.  Later estimates reported that the
amount may be as high as ~700 bbls (approx. 29,400 gal). -  - The South Louisanna Crude
oil was reported to have the following Oil Properties: - API 40 - Pour Point 45 deg. F -
- Current on-scene winds are reported to be SSE 25 knots, visibility 8 nm, 2500 ft
ceiling. -  - This spill occurred in a preapproved dispersant location.Dispersant
operations are on-going and they have been applied to the slick. -  - Contact Information
- LTJG Todd Bridgeman, with NOAA HAZMAT's New Orleans  Scientific Support Coordinator's
office  is enroute to Morgan City, LA to provide support to the USCG.