IncidentNews Home  >>  Incident  >>  Entry

Situation Update

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BASED ON THE MOST CURRENT DATA PROVIDED TO NOAA. -
 
Uncontrolled Sources of Oil in Kuwait  
From all uncontained sources, an estimated 3,000 bbls/day continue to enter the
Gulf.  The range is 1,500 bbls/day to 6,000 bbls/day.  This estimate is
consistent with the observations of "new" oil showing rainbow sheen to the north
of As-Sabahiyah and the oil dull gray sheen, mousse, and tar balls streaming
south.  

Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery Complex
  • Oil storage tanks, containment areas, pipelines, manifolds and valves have
    all been damaged, allowing oil to flow down natural drainage channels and  
    sewers into the Gulf.
  • The North Pier suffered damage to shipping pumps and shore approach valves
    (emergency shut off valves) located at the foot of the pier.  Black oil is
    leaking into the Gulf from storm drains and natural runoff areas around the 
    pier.
  • The South Pier suffered damage to the pipe rack near the foot of the pier. 
    These gravity-feed pipes are hanging into the water and leaking black oil   
    which is streaming out both sides of the pier.
  • The pump station/mixing and manifolding area for the Sea Island Loading
    Platform is just north of the South Pier approach, in the area of the LPG 
    plant. This manifold received extensive battle damage.
  • Diked areas around tanks near the shore and tanks on the escarpment south of
    the town of Al-Ahmadi as well as natural channels and storm drains were    
    full of black oil which is flowing toward the Gulf.  

The oil drainage from these damaged tanks and releases from the pipe rack on
KOC's south pier could increase or change at anytime.  

Recommendation 
Consider initiating operations to remove oil from the Gulf at the source until
the Gulf.  The range is 1,500 bbls/day to 6,000 bbls/day.  This estimate is
damages at the facility can be repaired, and the oil release terminated.  The
ongoing release of oil from sources in the Mina Al-Ahmadi terminal area will
require observation flights of at least weekly.