Oil Leak from Well in Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish Capped

Article

The Coast Guard says a leak from an abandoned oil well on Bayou St. Denis in southern Jefferson Parish, La., has been capped.

Capt. John Arenstam says the leak was capped shortly after 6 p.m. on Aug. 1.

A barge slammed into the abandoned well on July 27, sending a shower of water, natural gas and oil spewing about 100 into the air.

The Coast Guard hired Wild Well Control Inc. to cap the well. Another contractor is handling cleanup.

Oil skimming and recovery operations continue in nearby Mud Lake. Approximately 35 barrels, or 1,470 gallons of oily water mix, have been recovered, the Coast Guard says. An estimate of the total leak was not available but officials previously had said the well was mostly spewing gas with a small amount of oil.

State officials are assessing the shoreline impact from the leak.