Walkers on the Fylde Coast are being asked “have you seen any tar balls on the beach” after a recent offshore oil leak.
Where the Tar Balls are coming from
Around 500 barrels of oil (just under 80,000 litres) has leaked from a pipe between two platforms off the North Wales coast. ENI UK operate the affected platforms named Conwy and Douglas, about 20 miles offshore from Rhyl in Denbighshire. They’re part of a complex of three platforms about 15 miles from the north Wales coast.
Ironically, the spill happened on Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2022 – not exactly showing the seas some love!
According to a BBC report, “the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said its counter pollution and salvage team, together with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, was monitoring ENI’s response and was “assisting partner local authorities in an ongoing response”.
Natural England is also monitoring the incident and has plans in place should they be needed.
Have you seen any Tar Balls on the Beach?
By Wednesday 17 February, tar balls were reportedly washing up on Fylde Coast beaches. They’d been found washing up at Central Beach in Blackpool (between North and Central Piers).
They’ve also been found washed up on the beach north of St Annes Pier.
Due to tidal conditions there is a possibility of more washing up. There’s also been extreme weather with storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin in the space of only a few days.
These dark, coin sized oil blobs are a mixture of hydrocarbons and in this case from an oil spill. But they’re also produced by natural seeps where oil slowly escapes the earth’s surface above petroleum reservoirs.
What to do if you see any
The three local authorities and partner agencies have robust plans in place to ensure any contamination or disruption to our coastline is minimal. They are actively supporting ENI UK Limited’s clean-up teams to safely remove any potential contamination. This process has already started on site.
Have you seen any Tar Balls on the Beach? If so, please DO NOT attempt removal yourself.
Removal of this waste should only be carried out by experts wearing PPE. Instead, please call 01253 477600 to report any suspected incidents.
Please notify the relevant council of the location and they will attend to it.
- Lytham and St Annes, email Fylde Council on listening@fylde.gov.uk
- From Squires Gate through central Blackpool and Bispham to Anchorsholme, contact Blackpool Council. Email customer.first@blackpool.gov.uk
- Cleveleys, Rossall and Fleetwood, contact Wyre Council. Email mailroom@wyre.gov.uk
Share your findings on Coast Watchers
If you come across any of this oil pollution, please take a photograph and upload it to the Coast Watchers timeline.
We’re creating a photographic record of the life of the beach, with your photos from different locations.
While you’re here…
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