Authorities Believe They Know the Cause of the Oil Spill in California

The cause of the California oil spill may have been identified. Authorities say the source of the spill that dispersed up to 144,000 gallons of oil in the Pacific Ocean likely came from a 13-inch split found in a 4,000 foot section of the pipe that had been pulled about 105 feet to the side. Amplify Energy CEO Martyn Eillsher said “the pipeline has essentially been pulled like a bow string. And so at its widest point is about 105 feet away from where it was. So, it’s kind of an almost semicircle.”

The 17 mile long pipeline is about 98 feet under water and is around 16 inches in diameter. The line is steel and encased in concrete along the ocean floor. A report from the US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to Amplify Energy indicated the tear could have been caused by an anchor that hooked the line. The energy company is under scrutiny for not responding to a safety alert quick enough. Authorities are still investigating how the displacement happened and the split in the pipe.