How much oil is spilled or “leaked” from OCS natural gas and oil operations?
A. In 1969, a Federal platform offshore Santa Barbara experienced a blowout in one of its wells; an estimated 80,000 barrels (3,360,000 gallons) or oil was released into the ocean. The result of this incident was at least twofold: (1) the environmental conscience of the Nation was raised and the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental legislation was passed and (2) requirements for safety devices imposed by the Federal Government forever changed offshore operations. There has not been a spill of this size from OCS operations since the Santa Barbara spill. OCS operations are carefully conducted and regulated to ensure safe and environmentally sound operations. Since the tragic oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969, about 833 barrels of oil have been spilled as a result of OCS natural gas and oil operations offshore California. This spillage represents the cumulative loss from cups or a barrel at any given time, but for a 150 barrel spill from a pipeline in State waters ca
