Shell spots 10-mile oil sheen in Gulf of Mexico

Royal Dutch Shell says a sheen of oil, 10 square miles in size, has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico. The company said that it hasn't determined the cause of the sheen, estimated in size to be the equivalent of six barrels of oil.

Late Wednesday, Shell (RDSA) said that it reported the sheen to the National Response Center. The U.S. Coast Guard said the sheen was discovered at 4:45 p.m. central time on Wednesday.

Shell said the sheen is one mile wide and ten miles long and is located in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, between its Mars and Ursa drilling platforms.  More...