Boat Hits Well, Triggers New Gulf Oil Leak

A tow boat struck an abandoned well off the coast of Louisiana today, sending a plume of oil and gas into the air. Crews are at the site, near Mud Lake, and expect to have it under control today. Booms and oil-skimming equipment were already in the area, which has been dealing with oil from the BP spill. The AP describes the affected region as a "network of bayous and lakes north of Barataria Bay, an ecologically sensitive coastal estuary." The resulting oil slick is a mile long and 50 yards wide. (More Gulf oil spill stories.)