Pemex confirms minor pipeline leaks at Ek Balam field

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) acknowledged two small leaks in its Ek Balam field pipelines, located on the Atlantic coast.

Pemex rejects claims from Greenpeace and other groups that these incidents amounted to a 400-square-kilometer spill.

The company detailed that the leaks were minor, attributing them to two small cracks and a pore in the pipeline.

The resulting spillage was said to be 58 cubic meters, equivalent to 365 barrels of oil, and contaminated an estimated area of 0.06 square kilometers.

Pemex stated that for the spillage area to reach 400 square kilometers, about 1.5 million barrels of oil would have had to leak.

They referred to the figures cited in some reports as overestimates.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, made allegations of a larger spill when they convened a press conference to discuss the impacts of an event that started on July 4th.

Separately, on July 7, an explosion occurred on the “Nohoch-A” platform, leading to the death of two people and impacting 37% of its production.

The groups asserted that spills related to this incident were not reported.

Pemex clarified that the leaks and explosion are unrelated and that the leaks were promptly reported to the Agency of Security, Energy, and Environment (ASEA) and the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR).

They affirmed that the issue is now resolved.

ASEA, having completed a supervisory overflight and instructed containment and cleanup actions, confirmed the independence of the two incidents.

Greenpeace has called on Pemex to publicly disclose data and evidence supporting their assertions about the scale of the spill.