Pemex says it has contained crude leak at Cantarell field in Gulf of Mexico
Pemex says a crude leak from a pipeline at its Cantarell offshore field in the Gulf of Mexico has been contained, with repairs expected in the coming days.
Mexico's state oil company Pemex said it has brought a crude oil leak under control at an offshore facility in the Gulf of Mexico, after deploying containment vessels and divers to repair a breach in a pipeline.
The leak occurred at the Cantarell offshore field, located about 46 nautical miles from Ciudad del Carmen, the company said in a statement. A drop in pipeline pressure was detected on September 10, prompting crews to immediately depressurize and isolate the line, which has remained without flow since then.
Specialized containment vessels reached the site the same day and deployed oil-absorbent barriers while carrying out mechanical dispersion. Divers later located the breach and began repair work, completing seabed dredging on Saturday.
Crews are now removing concrete ballast from the pipeline and preparing a metal sleeve to cover the damaged section. Pemex said the repairs are expected to be completed in the coming days.
The company did not disclose the volume of the spill or any potential impact on production. It added that no oil is expected to reach the Mexican coastline.