[REVISION HISTORY]

Pemex pipeline leak in the Gulf of Mexico

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-15 03:08 UTC → 2026-09-18 20:37 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A crude oil leak was detected on September 10 from a Pemex underwater collection pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, located approximately 46 nautical miles north of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche. The leak affected the Cantarell extraction complex, specifically serving platforms including Ek-TA, Balam-TA, Balam-A, Balam-TB, and Balam-TA2. In response, the Mexican Navy activated its Local Contingency Plan via the Regional Emergency Attention and Management Group (GRAME), deploying the ocean patrol ARM ‘Guanajuato’, four vessels, two aircraft, and 255 naval personnel. Pemex depressurized and isolated the pipeline by closing safety valves. Monitoring by the Permanent Observatory of the Gulf of Mexico using satellite imagery indicated the slick was moving west and unlikely to reach the coast within five days, though a potential cold front could alter this trajectory. By September 13, Pemex reported no further oil emanation since the initial detection. Containment efforts transitioned to mechanical dispersion and the deployment of oleophilic barriers. Technical teams completed seabed dredging and worked to remove concrete ballast to facilitate the installation of a metal sleeve over the damaged section. By September 18, Pemex confirmed the damaged section of the submarine pipeline was repaired using a specialized metal sleeve and that pressure tests were successful. However, environmental organizations, including the Red Corredor Arrecifal del Golfo de México, expressed concern that the spill—which initially measured approximately 12.7 kilometers in length—could reach the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco, particularly if northern wind events occur. Activists have criticized Pemex for not publicly disclosing the specific type or quantity of hydrocarbons spilled during the five days the incident was active. This incident is part of a broader trend for the company; Pemex has recorded at least 10 emergencies in the Gulf of Mexico and southern Mexico during the first nine months of 2026, including spills, leaks, and fires. ~~Pemex continues to cooperate with an inspection ordered by the Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment (ASEA).~~

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