The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi provides the following information for the Gulf of Mexico community, since there are no comprehensive or long-term sources.

Reference List with selected PDFs

On 3 June 1979 the Ixtoc I exploratory well in the Bay of Campeche blew out. It was finally capped on 23 March 1980 after two relief wells were able to plug the well. An estimated 140 million gallons of oil were released into the southern Gulf of Mexico by the blowout and numerous environments from around the southern Gulf all the way to South Texas were impacted. The Ixtoc I well was located on the continental shelf in about 170 feet of water and about 50 miles north of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico.

Watch the Fox WVUE special: Mexico's Blowout-Lessons Lost

Part 2

Part 3

Dr. Wes Tunnell went on a series of expeditions to selected sites where Ixtoc oil/tar has been observed along the shores of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Click on the map to read Dr. Tunnell's expedition blog.

Ixtoc Pictures 1979-80

Padre Island, Texas:

Oily shell on Big Shell Beach

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Mexico:

Ixtoc I tar mat in sea grass bed (turtle grass) of Enmedio Reef windward lagoon off Anton Lizardo, Veracruz (10/1979)