Source: Oil spill due to a well blowout.

Release: Estimated 450 barrels to 1500 barrels of oil (similar to medium weight crude).

Primary Injury: The Trustees, in cooperation with the responsible party and its representatives, have assessed the nature and extent of potential injuries to trust resources located in the southeastern Barataria Bay watershed. Field observations, modeling, and best professional judgment were used to assess the ecological impact from the oil spill.

The Trustees have determined that natural resource injuries include:

• Water Column Faunal Impacts. The Trustees estimate that less than 1,707 kg of fish and shellfish (including production foregone) were impacted by the spill. This was based on extrapolating results obtained from a site-specific model used for a previous spill in this area.
• Benthic Function. Based on Habitat Equivalency Analysis, there are 6.1 discounted service acre-years of lost benthic ecological service flows resulting from the 21 acres of subtidal sediments impacted by the oil.
• Birds. Based on a site-specific model from a nearby oil spill, the Trustees estimate that 95 birds were killed.
• Marsh Function. Field observations and photographs were used to document oil and sheen impacting over 1200 acres within the watershed.
• Human Use. Based on field studies and observations made at the time of the incident, the Trustees determined that no specific assessment for human use impacts was warranted.

Map of southeast Louisiana showing the location of the Equinox oil spill.