Incident Name: Samedon Oil
Subject: Report - Final
Incident Date: 8/9/1996
Incident Location: Sabine River, Texas
Author: Ilene Byron
Latitude: 29°49 N
Longitude: 93°38 W
USCG District: 8
Product: medium crude oil
Type: 3
Volume: 35 barrels
Source:pipeline
RAR: none
Dispersants: No
Bioremediation: No
In-Situ Burning: Yes
Special Interest Topic(s): fresh-to-brackish marsh
Summary: On August 9, 1996, at the Cameron Meadows Lease in the
Sabine River, a two-inch pipe nipple broke off a flowline going to a header
manifold. The accident was caused by internal corrosion. A leak at the
bottom of a four-inch bulk line was also discovered in the same area.
The area is a fresh-to-brackish marsh surrounded by 100-foot wide canals
and spoil banks ranging from four to six feet above mean water level.
Behavior: The 100- by 300-foot area with a water depth of 4 to
12 inches sustained oiling 1/16-inch thick. The marsh is heavily vegetated
with Spartina, rosocain, sciripus, typha, and marsh alder.
Countermeasures/Mitigation: Cleanup crews in airboats performed
mechanical cleanup of oil in open areas. Because the marsh area was very
difficult to access, an in-situ burn was also performed. This area has
been burned previously as a marsh management technique.
Other Special Interest(s): The GST was onscene with PM-10 meters
and found no higher than normal readings. A control site was left for
follow-up study.
NOAA Activities: NOAA was notified of this incident on August 9,
1996, by MSO Port Arthur to discuss the spill. An in-situ burn had been
discussed, but the RP was only requesting mechanical cleanup. On August
10 the RP requested an in-situ burn and the SSC was contacted to advise.
The RRT VI Guidelines for Inshore/Nearshore Burn were faxed to the scene
and discussed The checklist was completed by the RP and the local state
representative from DEQ water quality. The SSC recommended the burn to
the USCG based on conversations with the state representative onscene
and the completed checklist.
References: RRT VI Guidelines for Inshore/Nearshore In-Situ Burn
|