The Coast Guard plans to burn off oil that spilled last week in a marsh about 42 miles (more than 65 kilometers) south-southeast of New Orleans.
A news release said the burn will take place Wednesday if weather allows, or otherwise Thursday.
About 800 to 1,000 gallons (3,000 to 3,800 liters) of oil spilled last week from a Time Energy LLC flowline at Cox Bay in Plaquemines Parish, Petty Officer John Michelli said Tuesday. A flowline is a pipeline connecting a single well to a manifold or to production facilities.
The spill doesn't appear to have hurt wildlife, and key federal agencies agreed that a controlled burn was the best way to deal with the spill, according to a Coast Guard news release.
The Coast Guard said it was working with Time Energy and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office on the controlled burn, which was expected to start at 8 a.m. and last until 4 p.m.
Michelli said a firebreak would be dug around the area to ensure that the fire doesn't spread, and fire crews would be stationed around it.