The second Gulf of Mexico oil spill

A second oil spill?

As if one oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico wasn't causing enough damage, news has come that there is a second oil spill in the Gulf originating from Taylor Energy Corporation's Ocean Saratoga rig, resting only 40 miles away from the Deepwater Horizon rig.

Despite no official comments from the rig's owner, Taylor Energy Corporation, and operator, Diamond Offshore Drilling, rumour has it that the rig has been leaking since 30 April with a slick 10 miles long, and visible from space.

It has been reported that John Amos of West Virginia-based nonprofit SkyTruth, was the first to notice the spill, observing an oil slick eleven miles off the coast of Louisiana. After viewing satellite images, it was confirmed that the Saratoga spill was independent of the DeepHorizon slick, meaning that there are now two environmental disasters occurring in the same region.

"We accidentally discovered this spill looking at the Deepwater Horizon images. The question is, what would we see if we were systematically looking at the offshore industry?" said John Amos with Skytruth.org.

"Is this an aberration, or are things like this going on all the time? That's why we are calling for public, transparent monitoring everywhere offshore drilling is going on in US waters."

It is not the first time, the Ocean Saratoga rig has been at the centre of controversy. In March 2005, a mishap in which the wellhead connector on the blowout preventer stack unlatched due to "poor procedures and human errors" saw 500 barrels of calcium chloride completion fluid released into the sea.

For the latest information on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, click here.

Relevant articles:

The offshore drilling ban: Bad for the US? | The Gulf of Mexico oil spill: What happens next? | Gulf oil slick: A boon to future alternative energy? | How America can reduce its oil dependency | What does the oil spill mean for US drilling policy?

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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