New estimates regarding a recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico suggest that the environmental damage may be significantly larger than initially acknowledged. An analysis of satellite imagery and pipeline capacity indicates that as many as 82,000 barrels of crude oil may have leaked from infrastructure belonging to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) over a period of at least ten days. The spill occurred within the Abkatún-Cantarell platform zone, a critical hub for the state-owned utility.
The scale of the disaster was calculated based on a slick that expanded across 43.5 square kilometers. With an estimated average thickness of 0.3 millimeters and the 36-inch diameter of the affected pipeline—which typically transports between 300,000 and 700,000 barrels daily—analysts suggest a daily discharge of roughly 8,200 barrels. This figure stands in stark contrast to the initial silence from federal officials regarding the incident.
The spill has reignited concerns over transparency and the aging state of Mexico’s energy infrastructure. While environmental organizations began flagging the leak as early as February, the event was largely obscured until a recently formed inter-institutional group, acting under instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed the source. The presence of the specialized repair vessel *Árbol Grande* in the area during the leak further underscored the industry's struggle to contain the fallout from its offshore operations.
With reporting from [Expansión MX].
Source · Expansión MX
