Overview

Ixtoc I was an exploratory oil well being drilled by the semi-submersible platform Sedco 135F in the Bay of Campeche of the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche in waters 50 m (160 ft) deep.[1] On June 3, 1979, the well suffered a blowout resulting in the third largest oil spill and the second largest accidental spill in history. A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico released at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil into the Gulf. This was the worst oil spill to date.

References

• Ixtoc I - wikipedia