Mysterious Oil Sheen Off Southern California Coast Not Linked to Spill, Coast Guard Says
An oil sheen that appeared last week in the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast has puzzled officials, as it does not seem to have been caused by an oil spill, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The sheen, measuring about 2.5 miles long and half a mile wide, was first spotted on Thursday evening, sparking concerns that it may have originated from nearby oil rigs or ships. However, oil samples collected from the sheen did not match any known sources of oil in the area, leading investigators to believe it may be natural seepage from the sea floor.
Preliminary tests conducted by the state’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response indicated that the samples had characteristics of “freshly produced oil” from the local Monterey geological formation. While the exact origin of the oil remains uncertain, Petty Officer Richard Uranga of the Coast Guard stated that it does not appear to be connected to the oil rigs in the vicinity.
In response to the sheen, cleanup crews removed about 85 gallons of oil offshore and cleared approximately 1,050 pounds of oily sand and tar balls from the shore over the weekend. Despite the cleanup efforts, tar balls have been washing ashore regularly since a major oil spill in the same area in 2021.
Beaches in Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, remained open over the weekend and on Monday, although an increase in tar balls was reported. City spokeswoman Jennifer Carey advised beachgoers to avoid areas with tar and to report any heavy contamination to lifeguards.
The Coast Guard, along with state and local agencies, have concluded their investigation into the mysterious oil sheen, which has left residents and officials alike puzzled about its origin.
