REPORT DATE: 08-23-2019
REPORT TIME: 1700 UTC
REGION: GULF OF MEXICO
SUB REGION: N/A
AREA/BLOCK: MAIN PASS   138
IMAGE DATE: 08-22-2019
IMAGE TIME: 2353 UTC
DATA SOURCE: SENTINEL1A 
MODE: Interferometric Wide (IW) VV
RESOLUTION: 20 meter
LOCATION: 29°21'17" N/88°47'02" W
AREA: 28.84 square kilometers (Updated 05/26/2020)
CONFIDENCE: Medium
REMARKS: Possible oil was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. The anomaly was located in the Main Pass lease area east of the LA Bird's Foot. The anomaly appeared dark with sharp edges, and was distinct from its background. It contained multiple parts of varying sizes, stretching 22.6 nmi from its easternmost point to its southwestern extent with gaps, and the largest portion was up to 1.6 nmi in width. Winds at the time of the image were around 10 kts from the SSE.

UNCERTAINTIES: No point source could be identified. The anomaly likely extended beyond the extent of the image. No oil slick was reported near the time and location of the anomaly, although NRC report #1255925 36 hours earlier was located 15 nmi west. The anomaly may have been biogenic material due to the proximity to land. Thus, confidence that this was oil is medium.

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

ERMA: https://erma.noaa.gov/gulfofmexico/erma.html#/layers=1+47039&x=-88.828056&y=29.2907865&z=11&panel=layer

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


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.