REPORT DATE: 01-18-2021
REPORT TIME: 1100 UTC
REGION: GULF OF MEXICO
SUB REGION: N/A
AREA/BLOCK: VERMILLION   282
IMAGE DATE: 01-18-2021
IMAGE TIME: 0009 UTC
DATA SOURCE: SENTINEL1A 
MODE: Interferometric Wide (IW) VV
RESOLUTION: 20 meter
LOCATION: 28°24'50" N/92°36'20" W
AREA: 1.84 square kilometers
CONFIDENCE: Medium
REMARKS: Possible oil was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. The anomaly was located approximately 75 nmi SSW of Marsh Island in LA, and measured approximately 2.1 nmi in length oriented N-S, and up to 0.45 in width. The anomaly had sharp, defined edges and was isolated from other areas of similar appearance in the image. Winds at the time of the image were from the west at around 8 kts.

UNCERTAINTIES: The anomaly appeared to emanate from a point at its southeastern end based on widening, but this was not supported by the wind direction. In addition, there were pipelines across the northern end of the anomaly and an oil facility to the immediate west, but none could be definitively identified as a likely point source. No known natural seeps were located nearby, but there were seeps in other portions of the image, so this could have been an unmarked seep. These factors result in medium confidence that the anomaly was an oil spill.

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

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 

While NESDIS makes every effort to ensure that its databases are error-free, errors do occur. With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose; nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed; nor represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.