The slick is unrelated to last year’s spillage when the anchor of a cargo ship ruptured an underwater pipeline.
On Oct. 1, 2021 a commercial ship reported a possible oil spill near a flotilla of boats moored off Huntington Beach. Four days later, it had become clear that a ship’s anchor had caught a section of Amplify Energy Corp’s eighteen mile long oil pipeline, rupturing the line and bowing a 4,000 foot section, dragging it 105 ft from its original position.
Cargo ships enroute to the Long Beach port, frequently sail above the oil line and are given coordinates to safely anchor while waiting to unload. The anchors of these large cargo vessels can weigh up to ten tons. Satellite images show as many as seven ships traversed the area around the time of the accident.
The rupture allowed 25,000 gallons of crude oil to spill into the ocean and spread into the Talbert Channel. Crude washed onto beaches, restricting fishing for months and affecting marine birds and animals in the area.
Now one year later, on Oct.7, an oil sheen once again appeared in the Talbert Channel. This time the source is believed to be from an abandoned pipeline. Crews working on a flood-control upgrade, first noticed and reported a light sheen in the water. The clean-up began with booms being used to contain the minor slick. No marine was seen to be affected.
A key permit for the underwater repairs of the Amplify line was issued on Sept. 30 2022, almost a year from the date of the anchor accident. Repairs would restore the transport of crude from the Ellie Platform to containers in Long Beach. The restoration could reduce some of the stress of California’s energy demands.
