The Coast Guard is overseeing an offshore oil spill in Plaquemines Parish. A 42-foot vessel hit an inactive wellhead Tuesday night about nine miles southwest of Port Sulphur.
The Coast Guard says 1800 feet of boom is surrounding the wellhead owned by Swift Energy of Houston. Some has also been placed along shoreline. Swift Energy says the well was inactive as of January 2008. It had produced crude oil and natural gas.
About 40 people are working on containment. Two skimmers are on scene. Federal agencies are involved, along with officials from state departments of environmental quality and natural resources.
Aerial surveillance is also being done during daylight hours. The Coast Guard says operations to control the well are set to begin this morning.
