Officials Say Pipeline Leaked More Than First Announced

Efforts to flush out the last of the oil from a leaking inactive pipeline off Huntington Beach were stepped up Thursday as officials conceded that a larger amount of oil has been released into the ocean than previously believed.

Since Sunday, about 300 gallons have seeped from an inactive pipeline near a three-platform complex about 10 miles offshore, said Susan Hersberger, a spokeswoman for owner Aera Energy LLC of Bakersfield.

The amount is 100 gallons more than first announced.

“I really want to express again that we regret that it’s taking longer than we would like” to stop the leak, she said. “We certainly share the community’s concern to stop the source and to minimize impact to the environment.”

The company has been flushing the pipeline with water during the morning and early afternoon hours, hoping to force out the last of the oil, and contain the seepage.

“We’re doing it in a highly controlled setting,” said John Romero, spokesman for the U.S. Minerals Management Service’s Pacific region, who said the pipeline flushing will occur around the clock until completed.

Sixteen containment and recovery boats dispatched by Aera Energy were working in the leak area Thursday, Hersberger said. Workers have recovered more than 600 gallons of emulsified oil and water. But it is unknown how much of the mousse-like substance is actually oil. Nor do officials know when the seepage or cleanup will be completed.

The inactive pipeline, which connects platform Eureka with platforms Elly and Ellen, was being cleaned when residual oil began seeping from seven known pinhole-size leaks Sunday.

The pipeline had been shut down after a June leak of about 420 gallons that sent gooey black tar balls onshore at pristine Crystal Cove State Park.

The extent of the damage from the current leak remains unclear. Small tar balls washed up on Newport Beach on Wednesday. Tests will conclude whether they came from the current spill or another source.