Cleanup operations are ongoing in the Gulf of Mexico near Grand Isle, Louisiana, following an oil spill connected to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP). This major response is being coordinated by both federal and state authorities.
A Unified Command, which includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), and LOOP, has been managing the response since February 27. This was prompted by the discovery of crude oil near the offshore facility the day before.
As of the latest update on March 7, officials estimate that about 31,500 gallons (around 750 barrels) of crude oil were released due to a mechanical failure at the LOOP facility on February 26. The leak has since been contained, and response teams have recovered approximately 27,888 gallons (664 barrels) of oil from the water.
The cleanup efforts have been significantly scaled up as teams work to contain and recover the remaining oil while also monitoring any potential environmental harm.
Currently, the response includes around 464 personnel, 60 vessels involved in cleanup, and 28,300 feet of protective boom deployed in affected areas. Daily aerial surveillance is being conducted using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones to track oil movement and direct recovery operations.
Most of the recovered oil has come from open water, although some has also been collected from nearby barrier islands along the Louisiana coast.
Environmental monitoring teams are assessing the situation for wildlife. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are keeping an eye on affected birds and shorelines as part of their evaluations.
Authorities are advising boaters to steer clear of the affected areas and to listen to VHF-FM Channel 16 for updates as cleanup operations proceed.
LOOP is located about 18 miles off the Louisiana coast and is the only deepwater U.S. port able to handle fully loaded Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). It plays a vital role in the nation’s crude oil import and storage system.
This incident occurs as the U.S. continues to expand its offshore oil export capabilities. In 2025, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) approved the Texas GulfLink Deepwater Oil Port, a significant new terminal planned about 26.6 nautical miles off Brazoria County, Texas. This facility, owned by Sentinel Midstream, will include infrastructure for offshore loading that can accommodate VLCCs through single-point mooring buoys, allowing U.S. producers to load supertankers directly in the Gulf of Mexico. The Department of Transportation granted the license for Texas GulfLink, LLC to construct and operate the terminal in February, marking an important approval under the Trump administration.
Officials state that cleanup and monitoring efforts will continue until all discharged oil is recovered and any remaining environmental impacts are assessed.