There’s still tar on the beaches in santa barbara where there are natural oil seeps offshore. Its gotten worse in the last years because they do less drilling so more pressure builds up from below.
Your feet can get a good coating of asphalt! Beachcombers, beware, and take a towelette moistened with solvent!
I lived in Santa Barbara in the 1970’s and 1980’s and remember getting tar on my feet, but only if I walked near the high tide line. If I stayed away from the high tide I didn’t have a problem.
I heard stories of clipper ships crews in the 19th century who saw clumps of oil floating on the water off Santa Barbara.
The locals when I lived there called it “natural seepage.”
Then again, there are God knows how many earthquake faults in the Santa Barbara Channel.
You could see the oil platforms in the distance.
I remember the local drug stores sold these small bottles of oil remover at the checkout counter. It was used to rub small oil stains off the soles of one’s feet.