History Detail

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