REPORT DATE: 02-21-2021
REPORT TIME: 1100 UTC
REGION: GULF OF MEXICO
SUB REGION: N/A
AREA/BLOCK: HIGH ISLAND A 505
IMAGE DATE: 02-21-2021
IMAGE TIME: 0026 UTC
DATA SOURCE: SENTINEL1A 
MODE: Interferometric Wide (IW) VV
RESOLUTION: 20 meter
LOCATION: 28°10'38" N/94°26'56" W
AREA: 10.39 square kilometers
CONFIDENCE: Medium
REMARKS: Possible oil was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. The anomaly was located approximately 120 nmi east of Port O'Connor, TX in the Gulf of Mexico and measured approximately 23.2 nmi in length and up to 0.7 nmi in width in several broken parts oriented N-S. The anomaly was distinct against its background with signs of potential feathering, and was located among numerous oil facilities and pipelines. Winds at the time of the image were around 15 kts from the ESE.

UNCERTAINTIES: Although numerous oil facilities were located near the anomaly, none could be identified as a likely point source. The anomaly also exhibited some characteristics of a bilge dump, although no likely source vessel appeared in the image. The anomaly was located along the eastern edge of the image swath, so it may have extended beyond the image edge. No known reports of oil slicks were found for the area.

Maps and shapefiles can be accessed at: www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/ocean/marinepollution/

ERMA: https://erma.noaa.gov/gulfofmexico/erma.html#/layers=1+45965&x=-94.436744&y=28.184654000000002&z=11&panel=layer

If you would like to share any feedback about this report or have questions, please contact the operational analyst at (301) 683-1403 or send to oceanmap@noaa.gov. Email alerts are available only for federal and state government officials involved in response efforts. Requests to be added to the email alerts should also be sent to oceanmap@noaa.gov. Please allow up to 2 business days to process the request.

For further information on oil spill response and assessment go to:https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills 

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