New Orleans, LA – Oil and gas company W&T Offshore Inc. has been sentenced to a $1 million penalty after admitting to falsifying water discharge samples from its Gulf of Mexico platform, the EW 910, and failing to report an oil spill. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and investigated by multiple federal agencies, reveals a deliberate attempt to circumvent environmental regulations and conceal pollution.
According to court documents, between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, employees of a contractor working for W&T Offshore routinely filtered produced water samples through coffee filters before submitting them for laboratory analysis. This practice skewed the results, masking the true levels of oil and grease present in the water discharged into the Gulf. The intention, investigators found, was to avoid exceeding permitted discharge limits and the associated costs and regulatory scrutiny.
The deception came to light following a November 22, 2009, process upset on the EW 910 platform that resulted in a visible oil release. Despite the spill coating sections of the platform and creating a sheen on the surrounding water, W&T Offshore failed to report the incident to the Coast Guard National Response Center. When inspectors from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) arrived days later, they observed the lingering oil and sheen, confirming the unreported pollution event.
Legal Ramifications and Penalties
On December 11, 2012, W&T Offshore was formally charged with violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). The company ultimately pled guilty on January 3, 2013, to one felony count of tampering with monitoring methods – a violation of 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) – and one misdemeanor count of negligent discharge of oil into U.S. waters, as defined by 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A). The sentencing included a $700,000 fine, $300,000 in community service payments earmarked for environmental projects, and a three-year probationary period.
As part of the probation, W&T Offshore is required to undergo safety and environmental audits of the majority of its 107 offshore facilities, ensuring compliance with Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) regulations. The company must audit 75% of its Gulf of Mexico facilities by the end of the probationary period. Federal officials emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for environmental violations, particularly in sensitive ecosystems like the Gulf of Mexico.
Key Facts
- Defendant: W&T Offshore Inc.
- Location: EW 910 Platform, Gulf of Mexico
- Crime: Falsifying water discharge samples and failing to report an oil spill.
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) – Clean Water Act
- Penalty: $1 million total ( $700,000 fine + $300,000 community service)
- Probation: 3 years, including mandatory facility audits.
“One of EPA’s primary missions is to ensure that federal laws protecting human health and the environment are enforced fairly and effectively,” stated Ivan Vikin, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Louisiana. “Violators who submit false information and illegally discharge pollutants undermine our efforts… These illegal actions cannot and will not be tolerated.” The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice, EPA, BSEE, and the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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