Houston-based offshore energy company Talos Energy Inc. said on Sept. 7 that the company's assets were not the source of an oil spill in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico around Louisiana.

The company said it was notified of an oil release observed on Bay Marchand Block 5 in Louisiana state waters on Aug. 31 due to its status as a prior lessee of the block, but it ceased production from the block in 2017. In an official statement released by Talos, the company also clarified that it "conducted both physical inspections and subsea sonar scans that confirmed Talos assets were not the source or cause of the release."

John Spath, senior vice president of Production Operations with Talos, who is leading the company's response efforts, commented: "Our team is doing everything possible to spearhead a fast, effective and safe containment and clean-up. Although the spill was unrelated to our operations, it was important to mobilize and identify the source and to contain the release to reduce safety and environmental risks."

The U.S. Coast Guard said it was investigating nearly 350 reports of oil spillage in and along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico following Hurricane Ida.

On Sept. 5, clean-up crews and a dive team were at the leak site in the Bay Marchand area, seeking to contain the spill and pinpoint its source and location.

A miles-long black streak of oil in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana was visible from the air after Hurricane Ida tore through the region a week ago.

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