---
title: "Huge Oil Spill Strikes Off Coast of California"
description: "About 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out of a pipeline near Orange County, California, causing damage to the environment that could last for months."
date: "2021-10-04"
modified: "2021-10-04"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/huge-oil-spill-coast-california"
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "environment"
  - "oil spill"
  - "the digest"
---

# Huge Oil Spill Strikes Off Coast of California

![About 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out of a pipeline near Orange County, California, causing damage to the environment that could last for months.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/huge-oil-spill-coast-california.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register\</em\>*

## Horrible Spill

Southern California is facing a horrific oil spill that began off the coast of Huntington Beach either Friday night or Saturday morning.

Somewhere around 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out of an underwater pipeline operated by Amplify Energy, *[The Associated Press ](<https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-california-wildlife-wetlands-oil-spills-05cbeb962f42ae50590715fb3546d56c>)*[reports](<https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-california-wildlife-wetlands-oil-spills-05cbeb962f42ae50590715fb3546d56c>), sending authorities scrambling to pinpoint and contain the leak while mitigating ecological damage. The damage, which experts say is [among the worst](<https://futurism.com/the-largest-spill-in-7-years-iowa-pipeline-leaks-138000-gallons-of-fuel>) to strike the area in recent history, has already blanketed beaches and wildlife habitats with oil, potentially shutting them down and causing likely environmental devastation for months.

"You get the taste in the mouth just from the vapors in the air," Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley told the *AP*.

## Red Alert

The oil has already spread to nearby marshlands, *[The Los Angeles Times ](<https://phys.org/news/2021-10-oil-seeps-orange-county-coastal.html>)*[reports](<https://phys.org/news/2021-10-oil-seeps-orange-county-coastal.html>). The fragile ecosystems serve as crucial habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife, but high tide brought the oil in and experts say the damage could last for months.

Authorities have already moved to block any more oil from entering the wetlands, but in some ways the damage may be done, according to the *LA Times*. Beyond that, Amplify Energy shut off its three offshore platforms and suction-drained the pipeline to keep any more oil from leaking out while authorities work to contain the spill.

"In a year that has been filled with incredibly challenging issues, this oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades," Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr told the *AP*. "We are doing everything in our power to protect the health and safety of our residents, our visitors, and our natural habitats."

**READ MORE:** [Crews race to limit damage from major California oil spill](<https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-california-wildlife-wetlands-oil-spills-05cbeb962f42ae50590715fb3546d56c>) \[*Associated Press*\]

**More on oil spills:** *[Oil Company Forgets To Mention Large Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/oil-spill-hurricane-ida>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)