"Investigating the Source of the Huntington Beach Oil Sheen: Natural Seepage or Drilling?"

The oil sheen observed off the coast of Huntington Beach, California, last week is unlikely to have stemmed from an oil spill, according to preliminary tests by the U.S. Coast Guard. Samples collected from the sheen did not match any oil that would have leaked from nearby oil rigs or ships, indicating characteristics of "freshly produced oil" from a local geological formation. The sheen is believed to be more consistent with oil that naturally seeps from the sea floor, and cleanup efforts have been conducted to remove oil and tar balls from the shore. Beaches remained open, but visitors are advised to avoid tar-contaminated areas and report any heavy contamination to lifeguards.