Search Now on to Find Ship That Snagged California Pipeline, Leading to Oil Spill

Search Now on to Find Ship That Snagged California Pipeline, Leading to Oil Spill

While it took only hours for oil to leech into the waters of California's Huntington Beach, finding the ship responsible for rupturing the oil pipeline will take much longer as federal and state agencies investigate the recent oil leak.

The leak off the coast of Orange County south was reported October 1 and confirmed the next morning as crude oil washed onto the sands of Hunting Beach and spread south. The coastline was closed for more than a week, creating economic turmoil for local businesses.

Investigators are determining the cause of the rupture, how quickly pipeline operators reacted and whether criminal charges should be filed.