Oil leaks at the Ek Balam oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico have resulted in an oil spill, which, according to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) estimates, covered an area of 467 square kilometers as of July 12.
The spill is predicted to move east-northeast, potentially impacting the coasts of Veracruz, Tamaulipas in Mexico, and parts of the United States.
The leaks were reported on July 6 to the Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment and the Secretariat of the Navy.
Scholars from UNAM’s Institute of Geography and National Laboratory for Earth Observation have utilized radar images to assess the extent of the affected area.
The Ek Balam fields, part of the Cantarell Complex, are 80 kilometers northwest of Ciudad del Carmen in Campeche state, owned by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
The analysis of the radar images confirmed that the oil spill covered an area of 467 square kilometers as of July 12.
Greenpeace and other environmental organizations warned about the spill on July 4, estimating it to be approximately 400 square kilometers.
However, Pemex claimed the leak was limited to 58 cubic meters, equivalent to 365 barrels of oil, affecting an area of 0.06 square kilometers.