Mexico Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Government Says Leak Stopped At 1,500 Barrels

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Environment Department says a spill of 1,500 barrels of oil from a pipeline near the Gulf coast has been brought under control, and about 40 percent of the oil has been recovered.

The department says some of the oil has been detected along a 5-mile (9-kilometer) stretch of the Coatzacoalcos river, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

The amount spilled is equal to about 63,400 gallons (240,000 liters).

The department said Monday the spill started Dec. 31 at a pipeline leading to a refinery operated by the state-owned oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos.

Video from the scene shows the banks of the river coated in black sludge.

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Comments

[olitenup]

02:36 PM on 01/10/2012

Ok, who actually believes only that amount spilled?

[mek0123]

11:27 AM on 01/10/2012

I say 1.5 million barrels of oil spilled. This is Mexico and they are mesmerized by big business, just like the U.S.