SPILLNEWS

BP shows Oil Spill Live Feed as slick scale estimates questioned

2010-06-12T02:59:00.002+10:00

BP oil spill joke

2010-06-12T02:55:00.004+10:00

Nigeria's agony dwarfs the Gulf oil spill. The US and Europe ignore it

2010-06-04T15:42:00.001+10:00

The Deepwater Horizon disaster caused headlines around the world, yet the people who live in the Niger delta have had to live with environmental catastrophes for decades.

Full Story at the Guardian

Video showing the oil spill clean up on the Po River in Italy

2010-02-28T17:02:00.004+10:00

US Coast Guard Video of the clean up of Port Arthur oil spill, Texas

2010-01-26T08:48:00.003+10:00

Indonesian Government to seek compensation from Australia and PTTEP for Montara spill

2010-01-21T10:54:00.006+10:00

The official Chinese Newsagency Zinhua has reported that the Indonesian Government is preparing a draft to seek compensation for damages caused by the Montara Well Head oil spill in the Timor Sea. They will seek compensation from both the Australian Government and PTTEP Australasia, operators of the Montara well.

"The results of laboratory tests conducted by our observation team showed that Indonesian Timor waters is contaminated by the oil spill came up from the explosion in Montara oil field," Pieter Fina, head of the Indonesian team tasked to mitigate the oil spill in Timor Sea said.

Mr Fina claimed that fishermen have suffered significant reductions in catches due to contamination and seaweed businesses in East Nusa Tenggara have been destroyed.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-01/20/c_13144280.htm

11,025 gallons of sewage spill into Pearl Harbor | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

2010-01-18T20:45:00.000+10:00

"About 11,025 gallons of sewage was discharged Sunday into a drainage canal that empties into Pearl Harbor from a main break near the 14th hole at Ted Makalena Golf Course, the state Department of Health Clean Water Branch said."

gallons of sewage spill into Pearl Harbor | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser:

Company says cap left off leaking well

2010-01-14T16:49:00.001+10:00

The Thai-based company behind an oil spill in the Timor Sea has revealed, ahead of a federal government inquiry, that a containment cap was not installed at a well that spewed oil for more than 10 weeks.

"When the work on the wells recommenced in August 2009, PTTEP discovered that the 340mm pressure-containing corrosion cap required by the drilling program had not been installed during the suspension of the H1 Well in March 2009," the company's submission says.

Company says cap left off leaking well - smh.com.au

PTTEP completes Montara H1 well capping operation in Timor Sea today

2010-01-13T20:42:00.003+10:00

PTTEP Australasia today announced the the operation to cap the Montara well in the Timor Sea has been completed. The H1 well which was leaking approximately 35 000 barrels of oil per day between late August and early November caused one of the largest spills in Australian history. Permanent plugging operations have been ongoing since the well was temporarily plugged with 3400 barrels of heavy mud in late November.

In a press release the company today said that Alert Well Control (contracted by PTTEP Australasia) set two mechanical plugs in the well at depths of 2 000M and 1 800M. The plugging operations were delayed by Cyclone Laurence in mid December and recommenced after Christmas.

PTTEP representative Jose Martens emphasised the technical difficulties faced by the relief team and the safe conduct of operatations.

Link to PTTEP Australasia media release 13/01/10

N.C. Port Shut Down After Explosives Mishap

2010-01-13T18:12:00.000+10:00

Officials shut down a North Carolina port and urged people to leave the area Tuesday after a forklift operator punctured at least one container filled with a powerful explosive. (Jan. 12)

Oil rig leak could have been prevented - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2010-01-13T16:45:00.005+10:00

One of Australia's largest oil spills might have been prevented had the Northern Territory Government properly monitored offshore wells, the oil safety watchdog says. The National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority says "a failure in the integrity" of the Montara well, off the north-west Australian coast, led to the spill of thousands of barrels of oil between August and November last year.

Oil rig leak could have been prevented - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Enbridge Energy Partners Lakehead Pipeline System Reports Crude Oil Spill in North Dakota

2010-01-11T13:28:00.001+10:00

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) (the "Partnership") today reported that clean up was continuing on a crude oil leak, which was confirmed Saturday on Line 2b on the Enbridge Lakehead Pipeline System. An initial spill estimate of approximately 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of light crude oil was reported to federal and state regulatory authorities.
The leak, which is located in Pembina County, North Dakota, was detected by the Enbridge pipeline control center at approximately 11:30 p.m. CT, Friday, Jan. 8. The pipeline was immediately shutdown and isolated by closing valves upstream and downstream of the suspected leak site. The leak is contained within the Enbridge right-of-way, and no water or wildlife have been affected.

Full CNN story - Enbridge Energy Partners Lakehead Pipeline System Reports Crude Oil Spill in North Dakota

The Day - Oil spill cleanup at mill in Norwich cost $720,000

2010-01-11T00:02:00.001+10:00

Norwich - The cleanup of the 2007 spill of PCB-laced oil at the abandoned Capehart Mill complex and into the Shetucket River cost $720,000, state and federal environmental officials said.

Initially, when the spill occurred in early July 2007, the state Department of Environmental Protection stepped in and paid for cleanup of the oil that had leaked into the Shetucket and onto the mill grounds. The leak was traced to vandalized abandoned transformers at the mill site that still contained the hazardous oil.

The Day - Oil spill cleanup at mill in Norwich cost $720,000 - theday.com

Oil producers line up against anti-spill law

2010-01-10T16:59:00.000+10:00

It's almost ironic. Kern oilman Arthur McAdams finally persuades one of his three daughters to take over the family business -- just as new rules are being crafted in Sacramento that he fears could ruin the industry for small operations like his.

Oil producers line up against anti-spill law - Bakersfield.com

BBC News - China tries to contain spill on Yellow River tributary

2010-01-04T01:07:00.004+10:00

Hundreds of workers in northern China are trying to contain a pipeline leak that has spilled diesel fuel into a major tributary of the Yellow River.

About 150,000 litres of diesel poured into the Wei river in Shaanxi province after a construction accident on Wednesday, state media reported.
Pollution has been reported up to 33km (21 miles) downstream. Locals have been warned not to use water from the river. The Yellow River is a source of drinking water for millions of people.
In 2005, a chemical spill in the Songhua river in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang cut off water supplies to 4 million residents.

The leak occurred on the fuel pipeline operated by the state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) that connects Lanzhou in the north-west province of Gansu with Zhengzhou in central Henan province, according to the China Daily newspaper.
The diesel first went into the Chishui river, a tributary of the Wei.

Around 700 emergency workers are said to be labouring round the clock, using floating dams and solidifying agents to contain the spill.
Their task has been helped by the current cold weather in the region.

Full Story - BBC News - China tries to contain spill on Yellow River tributary

Action on Timor oil spill

2010-01-01T17:09:00.001+10:00

FIRST shots have been fired in a looming legal battle over the massive oil spill that polluted the Timor Sea, with the company involved urged to confess responsibility in writing.

A group of commercial fisherman who ply the waters around the West Atlas rig have written to oil giant PTTEP in the first step of what could be a prolonged legal stoush.

The Age - Action on Timor oil spill

Bangalore on alert after chemical spill

2010-01-01T15:00:00.002+10:00

Chemical Spill in Bangalore triggers emergency

2010-01-01T00:22:00.001+10:00

A chemical spill in Bangalore triggered a scare as some residents complained of experiencing burns and irritation in their eyes on Tuesday.

According to local residents of Srirampuram area, the stink was so intense that they thought it to be a gas leakage.

Chemical Spill Triggers Scare in Bangalore

Iran oil spill endangers wetland, water supply

2010-01-01T00:10:00.001+10:00

A yet-to-be-contained oil spill in southwest Iran threatens the water supply of three towns and the internationally recognized Shadegan wetland.

A local official said an explosion that occurred three days ago at an oil well in Ramshir has caused a spill that is now close to reaching the Jarahi River.

Iran oil spill endangers wetland, water supply

Video of the oil spill containment following tug grounding on the same reef as Exxon Valdez

2009-12-26T21:26:00.001+10:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUbx-2XCdEI

Shell says 61 000 barrels of oil spilled in Nigeria in 2008

2009-12-10T16:42:00.001+10:00

AFP has reported that an Anglo-Dutch Shell company document said that about 61,000 barrels of crude of oil were spilled in Nigeria last year, mostly due to the activities of Niger Delta armed militants.

"In 2008, saboteurs spilled almost 48,000 barrels of oil in 140 incidents... About 40,000 barrels of this was the result of armed gangs blowing up pipelines with explosives in 10 separate incidents," it said.
Shell's Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), said that the volume of spill became significantly greater because local communities frequently delayed the company's officials from stopping the leak and start the clean-up.

"According to our own estimations, 13,000 extra barrels of oil were spilled in 2008 as a result," it added.
Local communities in the oil-rich region have often accused foreign oil companies, especially Shell, of causing environmental pollution and degradation without paying adequate compensation.
Shell was in 1994 forced to stop operation in Ogoniland -- a major community in the region -- following a violent campaign against the company.

SPDC, the largest private-sector oil and gas company in Nigeria, has a network of more than 6,000 kilometres (3,750 miles) of flowlines and pipelines and 90 oilfield in volatile Niger Delta.
It also has 1,000 oil wells, 72 flowstations (pumping stations), 10 gas plants and two major oil export terminals -- in Bonny and Forcados.

There were almost 90 incidents of crude oil theft, locally known as bunkering, from SPDC facilities last year, during which incidents of "malicious damage" and pipeline theft increased by 48 percent, it also said.
Between 2006 and 2008, armed militants kidnapped 133 SPDC workers and contractors.
Five people working for SPDC joint venture were killed in assaults and kidnappings in the same period.
Shell ventures produced an average of more than 850,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day last year, about 39 percent of the country's total oil and gas production, the document said.

Universtiy of Queensland expert assesses coastal impact of Montara Spill

2009-11-16T01:58:00.000+10:00

Dr Norm Duke, a marine biologist with The University of Queensland's Centre for Marine Studies, has been engaged by PTTEP Australasia (Ashmore Cartier) Pty Ltd to examine the potential risk to coastline ecosystems, following the Montara oil and gas leak 200 km north-west of Western Australia's Kimberley coastline.

Through a contract negotiated with UQ's main commercialisation company, UniQuest, Dr Duke will spend 10 days this month conducting an independent baseline ecological assessment aerial survey with 20 ground sampling sites along the shoreline from Darwin to Broome (excluding Ashmore reef).

Link to full article on UQ web page

Leaking well stopped and main fire out

2009-11-03T19:02:00.002+10:00

Statement just released from PTTEP Australasia

PTTEP Australasia today announced it had killed the leaking well and stopped the main fire at the Montara well head platform and surrounding the West Atlas drilling rig in the Timor Sea.

Some material on the topside of the West Atlas rig might still be on fire but it is expected to be extinguished as the fuel source burns out.

Well control experts onboard the nearby West Triton rig reported thay had pumped approximately 3,400 barrels of heavy mud down the same relief well which has successfully intercepted the leaking well on Sunday morning.

The operation to pump the heavy mud began at 1440 (CST). The main fire was reported to be out at 1548 (CST).

PTTEP drilling experts who are monitoring online well date in Perth reported the situation was stable and well pressure was being maintained.

The company declared a shutdown or 'well kill' was compltedt at approximately 1715 (CST) today. The well continues to be monitored and a mixture of light mud and brine is continuing to be pumped into the relief well to maintain a stable situation.

The next phase of securing the well head platform will now be undertaken subject to strict safety considerations.

Footage of the West Atlas rig fire from 7 news (Australia)

2009-11-02T17:38:00.001+10:00

Next attempt to stop Fire and well leak tomorrow.

2009-11-02T17:17:00.003+10:00

This statement has just been released by PTTEP on the well leak and West Triton fire.

Well control experts are today mixing approximately, 4,000 barrels of a heavy density of mud to pour down the relief well. It is now expected to take until later this evening to complete the preparation of all of the required quantity of heavy mud.

Due to safety concerns, the company will not be in a position to attempt to kill the well and stop the fire until tomorrow morning.

"The best and safest way to stop the fire is to 'kill the well' by pumping heavy mud into the leaking well from the West Triton rig." said PTTEP Director and Chief Financial Officer Jose Martins.

"The mixture of heavy mud is designed to backflow along the leaking well, stopping the flow of gas and oil at the surface of the H1 well, cutting off the fuel source for the fire at the well head platform.

"This should kill the well and should stop the fire."

Mr Martins said the company's drilling experts were today also conducting tests inside the leaking well to obtain more data so that it maximised its efforts to kill the well when the heavy mud was poured down the relief well.

Overnight, the fire on the Montara well head platform and surrounding the West Atlas rig ahs continued. In addition, all eight non-essential personnel were taken off the West Triton rig.

There have been no personnel onboard the West Atlas rig since August 21 when the emergency first started.

Eyewitness reports today indicate there is little or no oil being released into the ocean from the Montara well head platform. This would indicate the oil and gas is burning off from the well head platform fire.

ABC TV on the report into the effects of the West Atlas oil spill

2009-11-02T12:18:00.001+10:00

SBS news coverage of the West Atlas fire

2009-11-02T12:14:00.002+10:00

Further details from PTTEP on the West Atlas rig blaze

2009-11-01T22:34:00.003+10:00

PTTEP have released further details on the fire at the West Atlas rig in the Timor Sea.

The fire is burning around the cantilever portion of the West Atlas rig which is located directly above the Montara wellhead platform PTTEP said today.

The company reports that the Nor Captain a fire fighting vessel that was on site, presumably for this eventuallity, "sprayed water onto the fire around the cantilever portion of the West Atlas rig. It has now moved away and is standing two nautical miles off the West Atlas rig."

In and effort to help bring the fire under control seawater is also being pumped downn the relief well from the West Triton rig and a specialist fire fighting team is on a charter flight to the scene of the Fire in the Timor Sea.

The company has given no indication as to how this will effect the ongoing operation to plug the well leak.

Explanation of the relief well drilling process

2009-11-01T18:12:00.001+10:00

This is excellent graphical explanation of the process underway at Montara courtesy of twitoil. See his blog at http://twitoil.wordpress.com/

West Triton Rig and Montara well head platform on fire

2009-11-01T15:10:00.000+10:00

The following statement has just been released by PTTEP operators of the leaking Montara well in the Timor Sea

PTTEP Australasia reports the West Atlas rig and Montara well head platform are on fire.

All personnel on the Wet Triton and on nearby work vessels are reported to be safe. Non essential personnel are being evacuated from the West Triton.

At 9:30 (CST) today the leaking well in the Montara field in the Timor Sea was intercepted.

Operations commenced to complete the 'well kill' by pumping heavy mud into the leaking well from the West Triton.

While operations were continuing, a fire broke out on the H1 well.

No further information is available at this stage. More updates will be issued as more details become available.

I will continue reporting as further deatails come to hand. I am most interested to find out how this will effect further efforts to plug the leaking well.

No news is bad news - Oil spill continues in Timor Sea, no attempt today

2009-11-01T01:26:00.000+10:00

This is the latest statement from PTTEP Australasia about the leaking well in the Timor Sea.

Work is continuing on the West Triton rig in the Timor Sea in preparation for a new pass this weekend to set up for a possible intercept to stop the leaking well in the Montara Field.

PTTEP Australasia says the next pass of the drilling operation will in all likelihood facilitiate a ranging by-pass.

This means that in drilling towards the target area, the new side track well would run close to - or by-pass - the existing leaking well.

The drilling team aboard the West Triton rig is drilling a new sidetrack well, aiming for a position approximately 10 metres further along from the target - a steel casing 25 cm in diameter, 2.6km below the sea bed.

ALERT Well Control Managing Director Mike Allcorn said a by-pass would allow electromagnetic ranging tools to be run down the hole to confirm distance and direction from the sidetrack well to the original leaking well.

"This narrows the cone of uncertainty, allowing greater accuracy and a higher probability of success with subsequent operations," Mr Allcorn said.

"One or two more passes could possibly be required - the first of them would be later next week - before we make a successful intercept."

The drill operation remains challenging and highly complex.

He said as drilling continues today, the team remains focused on the primary objective of intersection the target casing and completing the required well control operations in a safe, professional and expedient manner.

Mr Allcorn has 30 years' experience in emergency responsee and risk management services involving oil well firefighting, blowout control, well control and relief well engineering operations around the world.

My take - the real message to be taken from this statement is that the attempt to be undertaken this weekend has very little chance of staunching the leak and it will be some time (as the company has admitted) before the leaking well is intercepted. It would seem that it is extremely difficult, as one would expect, to plug a pipe 25cm in diameter that is 2.6km below the sea bed. It is likely that several attempts will be required, as was the case previously.

Breaking - Oil spill in San Franciso Bay

2009-10-31T02:54:00.003+10:00

Several news organisations have just reported that an oil spill has occurred in San Franciso Bay. The reports suggest that a Panamanian registered oil tanker, Dubai Star is responsible for a spil of bunker oil that extends for over a mile.

A Coast Guard spokesperson said “The leak occurred when they were transferring bunker fuel, We are evaluating the situation and have resources responding. “

US Coast Guard link
http://www.insidebayarea.com/twitter/ci_13677174
http://www.ktvu.com/news/21476363/detail.html

WWF - Montara Oil Spill Appeal in pictures and video.

2009-10-31T00:21:00.004+10:00

Link to a good Interview on Australian radio about the Montara oil spill

2009-10-31T00:08:00.000+10:00

http://friendfeed.com/spillnews

The WWF's veiw on the Timor Sea oil spill - Interview from Al Jazeera

2009-10-24T21:08:00.006+10:00

PTTEP announce fourth attempt to plug leak will go ahead Sunday (tomorrow)

2009-10-24T20:49:00.002+10:00

PTTEP Australasia owners of the leaking Montara well in the Timor Sea have said in a media release the the fourth attempt to plug the well will go ahead on Sunday at the earliest "due to safety considerations."

The drilling team aboard the West Triton rig have today deployed a "specialised guidance tool down the intercept well towards the 25cm wide well that is located approximately 2.6km below the seabed."

The company is pinning its hopes on the specialised guidance tool to locate the drilling assembly in the correct position to intercept the target well.

Link to the PTTEP Australasia media release

US Coast Guard video of the ship that spilled oil in Gulf of Mexico following collision

2009-10-23T22:51:00.000+10:00

Aircraft deploying dispersant on oil sheen off Texas coast after tanker collision

2009-10-23T22:37:00.002+10:00

Breaking News - Fourth attempt to plug Montara well will happen on the weekend

2009-10-23T18:36:00.002+10:00

PTTEP have just posted a media release on their webiste saying that the fourth attempt to plug the leak from the Montara well head "should take place over the weekend".

The company said "following an overnight analysis of electro magnetic surveys after yesterdays drilling activities, technical experts have reccommended the use of a specialised guidance tool to optimise alignment of drilling assembly in the well bore to intercept the leaking well in the Montara field."

The statement went on to say "the drilling team aboard the West Triton Rig will deploy the alignment tool down the intercept well to accurately guide the drilling assembly towards the target."

The fourth attempt was originally scheduled to happen yesterday, and then today.

PTTEP media release

PTTEP say drill within centimeters of leaking well - fourth attempt today

2009-10-23T14:01:00.000+10:00

PTTEP owners of the leaking Montara well head yesterday reported that during drilling operations to stop the leaking well it recovered an eight centimeter piece of cement believed to be from the casing surrounding the target well.

They said that this indicates that they are within centimeters of the leaking well, situated apprximately 2.6 km below the surface of the Timor Sea.

The company indicated that pending results from electro-magnetic surveys a fourth attempt to plug the well was likely to be undertaken today.

The company included a photo of the 8cm secion of cement believed to be from the casing on a press release issued yesterday.

Link to PTTEP 22 October press release

Scientists raise doubts over validity of oil spill testing at Montara

2009-10-22T23:49:00.003+10:00

The Age has reported that concerns have been raised regarding the reliability of testing conducted on fish following the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea of the West Australian coast. This follows repeated reports from Indonesian and Timorese fishermen of widespread fish kills in the area.

The article in The Age has quoted scientists who conducted tests on the fish as saying the tests may not be a comprehensive indicator of the environmental impact.

"That report, endorsed by the Federal Government, found no oil contamination in the fish studied.
But the test studied just four fish, and they were delivered to the scientists frozen - which precluded examination of bile, the best guide to oil contamination" the report in the Age said.

Testing of bile is known to be a better indicator of contamination from an oil spill of this type. "Collection and analysis of fish bile would be a more sensitive parameter in informing on possible exposure of fish to petroleum hydrocarbons,'' the scientists said in their report as written in the article..

Green groups have panned the lack of information from authorities and have questioned the testing program.

I have posted footage of a WWF trip to the area to conduct testing and WWF has indicated that they will release its own survey of environmental impacts today after a three-day boat journey to the waters around the spill.

My personal knowlegde (though somewhat limited) of the impact of marine oil spill of this type in the open ocean is that there would be little likelihood of damage to fish species, however testing of only four fish is obviously inadequate and does raise questions about the testing program in general.

I will be analysing the report that has been published (and telling you my findings here at SpillNews) with a view to judging the efficacy of the testing program.

Footage of the WWF testing
Link to The Age article

Fourth attempt to plug Montara leak on Thursday

2009-10-18T17:25:00.002+10:00

PTTEP the owner of the leaking Motara well in the Timor Sea has said that they will make a fourth attempt to plug the well on Thursday. The well has been spilling approximately 400 barrels of oil per day into the surrouning Timor Sea for eight weeks now. That equates to approximately 37 million litres of oil spilled.

To plug the well the machinery has to intersect a 25cm diameter casing which is detected using electro-magnetic ranging tools, before the plugging with what has been described as "heavy mud" can proceed.

After each failed pass the company calculates the the distance and direction that the last drill passed from the pipe, so in theory the chances of success should increase with each attempt.

Link to Brisbane Times article.
Link to Yahoo Seven article.
.

324 000 litres of oil recoverd from the Timor Sea

2009-10-15T19:26:00.000+10:00

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority have reported on their website that 324 000 litres of "product" have been recovered from the Timor Sea. The oil has been leaking at a rate of approximately 400 barrell per day from the leaking Montara well.

The oil has been recovered with booms and skimmers and has been possible due to continuing good weather conditions. Observers in aircraft monitoring surface oil contamination have been directing vessels to visible slicks.

Rig owner PTTEP to fund oil spill impact study and clean up

2009-10-15T18:18:00.005+10:00

PTTEP owner of the leaking Montara Well in the Timor sea and Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett today announced that they will fund, for at least two years, a monitoring program to study the environmental impacts from the second largest spill in Australian history. An estimated 400 barrells a day have been leaking from the well for fifty five days.

The monitoring program will be conducted by scientific experts and is to be jointly managed by PTTEP and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA).
Mr Garrett said the monitoring will provide information to address "the longer term environmental ipacts of this disaster." Minister Garrett said the study would iinclude surveying of marine life, studies of wildlife and habitat, water quality tests and shoreline assessments. The full study is available here.

The following areas have been highlighted in the Monitoring Plan:

- Marine fauna (including turtles, sea snakes, birds, fish, cetaceans and dugongs)

- Habitat (coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses and marine water quality)

- Commercial fisheries

- Remote sensing, field sampling and assessment

- Hydrocarbon analysis

The program will include studies, if triggered, of:

- Marine megafauna and aerial assessment surveys

- Shoreline ecological assessment aerial surveys

- Assessment of fish catch for the presence of oil

- Assessment of the effects on Timor Sea fish and fisheries

- Offshore banks assessment survey

- Shoreline ecological ground surveys

- Oil fate and effects assessment

The company also announced today that it will meet all costs incurred to date by Government agencies from monitoring and remediating the spill.

Second attempt to plug Montara well leak fails - oil spill continues

2009-10-13T16:28:00.001+10:00

The second attempt to plug the oil and gas leak from the Montara well in the Timor Sea has failed. PTTEP Chief Financial Officer, Jose Martins, said that while the company was aiming to make another attempt on the weekend a final decision on that would be made tomorrow.

The company has been using electromagnetic ranging tools to target a steel casing 25cm in diameter, 2.6km below the seabed. Martins today stated``While not making an interception on today's pass is disappointing, the probability of success given the plus or minus one-metre accuracy on the target was not in our favour.''

With each attempt the machinery gets closer to the target , therefore the exact location of the pipe casing becomes more certain. Mr Martins said the method had never failed in similar operations around the world, and the company remained confident the attempt would be successful.

Full article at Perth Now.

Second attempt to plug Montara well leak today

2009-10-13T10:17:00.000+10:00

The ABC Online has reported that another attempt will today be made to plug the leaking Montara well in the Timor Sea north west of Australia. The well has been leaking oil and gas for more than seven weeks. There has been widespread criticism of the clean up from environmental groups and factions of the Indonesian Government. The ABC reported today that 22 sea birds have been affected by the spill with 13 having died according to the Federal Department of Environment and Conservation.

Video of the Newtown, Connecticut oil spill clean up following tanker crash.

2009-10-11T02:39:00.002+10:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video.

300 tonnes of Zinc Slurry spilled from Century Zinc pipeline in Australia

2009-10-07T21:45:00.001+10:00

The following is the official statement from MMG owners of the Centrury Zinc Mine in North Queensland. The Century Zinc Mine is the second largest producing zinc mine in the world. This spill has occured in a very remote part of Australia and it seems that little information other than that issued by the mine operators is currently available. Much of this pipeline passes through land of the traditional indigenous owners.

"Further to advice yesterday that a failure in Century mine’s pipeline had resulted in a discharge of zinc concentrate slurry, MMG now provides an update on the situation.

A survey team was dispatched to the location of the pipeline fault early this morning, the priority being to fence off the spill and, if necessary, bund the affected area to ensure it is adequately contained. The team will then evaluate the situation and develop a comprehensive clean up plan.
While pumping was ceased immediately upon identification of the fault, we estimate that approximately 300 tonnes of zinc slurry, consisting of approximately 160 tonnes of zinc metal, was discharged into the area in the spill. At this point MMG does not know the exact circumstances surrounding the failure of the pipeline and the survey team will be conducting a review of the pipe itself to ascertain the reasons why it failed.
This is the first time in thirteen years of operation that the mine has experienced a discharge from the pipeline. Transport of concentrate will not re-commence until we are absolutely certain that we have resolved the situation.
We continue to work closely with the Department of Environment & Resource Management. Representatives of the Department are on site today as part of a pre-arranged visit and so the clean up plan will be developed and executed with direct input from the Department to ensure that any concerns they may have are addressed.

MMG does not believe there is any immediate danger to the environment from the spill. However, we are committed to fully cleaning the area and will conduct all necessary tests post-clean up to give all stakeholders the confidence that the issue has been adequately dealt with".

Breaking - Attempt to plug Monara well oil leak fails

2009-10-06T12:59:00.004+10:00

Fairfax press relesed just five minutes ago news that the attempt by PTTEP to plug the leak from the Montara well in the Timor Sea failed.

I will post a more complete story when more details are available.

Link to Story

Zinc concentrate spill from Century Zinc Mine pipline

2009-10-05T18:29:00.002+10:00

The Age and Reuters have just reported that a zinc concentrate spill has occurred near the Century Zinc Mine in North Queensland. The size and impact of the spill have not been reported as yet. The Century mine is owned and operated by MMG a Chinese mining group.

MMG said that they detected a failure in the pipeline that carries zinc concentrate from the mine to the port at Karumba and immediately stopped pumping the concentrate. The company said that the fault occurred 115km along the 304km pipeline.

The company said "they are currently working on determining the amount of zinc slurry that was discharged during the incident".

Spillnews will report the latest information on this spill as is comes in.

View Larger Map

WWF video from the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea

2009-10-05T02:29:00.001+10:00

You have probably read about the WWF team that have travelled to the Timor Sea to monitor impacts from the Montara oil spill, here is the footage that backs up their claims.

AMSA has posted video of the Montara oil spill clean up.

2009-10-02T18:23:00.000+10:00

AMSA the agency responsible for the clean up of the Monara oil spill has today posted video of the clean up. Footage shows that a weir skimmer has been used to recover oil in amazingly perfect sea conditions. Whilst this offers a limited view of the operations and no doubt is designed to show the operation in the best light, it is very interesting insight.

Weir skimmers as the name suggests are not generally used for oil recovery in marine situations, however the GT-185 is a very widely used skimmer that is suitable for marine use in the calm conditions in this case. It can be seen in the video that floating booms have been used to concentrate/collect the oil to allow the skimmer to recover the oil efficiently.

I will be posting an article explaining the use of oil skimmers in the near future. Stay tuned.

AMSA Video of the oil spill clean up.

38 Million good reasons to securely and legally store mercury

2009-10-02T17:43:00.002+10:00

Southern Union is set to be fined US $38 million after theives stole mercury which was illegally stored without permit in the vacant New England Gas storage building in Pawtucket in 2004. The theives took the stolen mercury to an apartment complex where some of the mercury was spilled. Decontamination of the apartment complex took several weeks to complete, during which time occupants were evacuated.

Montara spill - Indonesian concerns grow

2009-10-02T12:55:00.000+10:00

Concerns are growing in Indonesia that the oil spill from the ruptured Montara well head will endanger marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of Indonesian fishermen in the area.

The Jakarta Post has reported that dozens of residents in the NTT region have become sick after eating dead fish that were washed up on the shore. The affected residents experienced nausea and skin irritation, they say as a result of eating the fish.

Indonesian fishermen from the area have reported the sea in the area is covered in masses of crude oil which resemble sand.

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Robilliard said that Australia advised Indonesia soon after the leak occurred and has continue to keep Indonesian authorities informed throughout the process.

AMSA the Australian agency responsible for cleaning the spill has received permision to operate in Indonesian waters and sprayed dispersant on a slick from ships in Idonesian waters on the 23rd of September. AMSA has also been operating surveilance flights to identify any polutants in Indonesian waters.

Mr Sato M. Bisri, Director of Sea and Shoreline Security for the Indonesian Transportation Ministry and a team will conduct a joint observation with Australian officials a the Montara rig this week.

Chlorine spill in Sydney factory - five workers hospitalised

2009-10-01T12:13:00.001+10:00

Twenty five workers have been evacuated from the Ecolab factory at Revesby in south-west Sydney following a chlorine spill on the mezzanine level of the facility.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that emergency services were called to the factory after several workers suffered symptoms of chemical exposure such as vomitting, eye irritation and breathing difficulties. Multiple Hazmat and fire units attended to the spill and six ambulances attended the scene transporting five workers to hospital.

Emergency services continue to clean the spill.

Photograph from skynews.com.au

Check Voicemail on Weekends and avoid 3 million gallon sewage spill.

2009-09-30T14:35:00.003+10:00

The message learnt by the Missourie Department of Natural Resources after a spill of raw sewage should be to check their messages on weekends.

An estimated 3 million gallons of rew sawage spilled from a ruptured serwerage pipe into a tributary of the Blue River in south Kansas City recently. The spill was discovered on Friday and reported by a city worker, who called the general DNR number and left a voicemail. DNR operates a special spill hotline number which is manned around the clock. The employees at DNR did not retrieve the voicemail until midday on Monday.

City workers were working to control the spill when the DNR inspectors arrived on the scene on Monday afternoon.

There were two breaks in the pipe that officals said were caused by erosion over time.

Houston Shipping channel reopens

2009-09-29T11:32:00.001+10:00

The US Coast Guard has announce that the shipping channel to the port has reopened at 12:45pm local time. A three mile portion of the channel affected by the oil spill has been closed to all shipping traffic since the incident.

The Captain of the Port, Marcus Woodring, determined that the oil is contained along the shoreline, making it safe to resume traffic flow through the affected area, albeit at reduced speed.

Response teams have recovered 23,418 gallons of oil/water following the spill.

Link to US Coast Guard Site

Houston oil spill proving difficult to clean

2009-09-28T23:58:00.001+10:00

Officials have reported that the spill is proving difficult to remove. Tthough the 14 500 gallon spill has been contained and poses no immediate risks, it currently unclear how long the clean up process will take.

The Houston Chronical today said "Officials said it could take as long as three weeks to remove the sticky fuel oil. The channel will be closed to all vessel traffic north of the Sidney Sherman Bridge as the cleanup continues."

Heavy fuel oil leaked out of a 2' by 4' gash when the 458-foot vessel, owned W.O. Ship Management based in the Marshall Islands, was turning near Brady's Island around 9 p.m. Friday and collided with Buffalo Barge No. 251.

At least 130 people are working on the cleanup. A containment boom and other equipment is being used to remove the spilled oil.

Link to the Chronicle story

AMSA has posted new Stats on Dispersant use at Montara spill

2009-09-28T18:34:00.000+10:00

Here is the latest chart posted by AMSA on the 28th of September. Whilst some agencies have been criticised for a lack of openness, I think AMSA have done well in regularly publishing these statistics.

http://bit.ly/1HawZh

Footage of the spill clean up in Houston

2009-09-28T15:49:00.000+10:00

How the Montara leak is being reported in Indonesia

2009-09-26T21:42:00.008+10:00

I found this very interesting article posted on the ANTARA News website from Indonesia, Australia's immediate neighbours in the Timor Sea.

ANTARA reported that Esthon Foenay the Vice Governor of East Nusatenggara said "The approximately 500,000 liters of petroleum that were spilled into the sea following the explosion in the Montana oil field could pollute the Timor Sea and threaten the habitats of fish and other marine biota in the waters."

"Apart from efforts to protect the marine biota, the NTT government would also take measures to prevent the oil spill from threatening human life", Foenay said.

Proving that politicians and their spin doctors are alike the world over, Feonay also said "He therefore hoped that the Australian government would be prepared to issue an "honest" statement to confirm the reports about the explosion and the oil spill".

At no stage has it been reported anywhere that an explosion occurred at the Montara well head, and it is very unlikely that any human harm could realistically be expected, one wonders whether Feonay has information that no one else has recieved or has been misinformed rather than deliberately taking aim at his domestically unpopular neighbour Australia.

Click for the ANTARA News link

Breaking News

2009-09-25T12:32:00.000+10:00

An oil spill on the Ipswich Motorway in Brisbane at the Centenary Highway westbound. There are no further details at this stage as it has just been reported.

Latest stats on Dispersant Use at the Montara oil spill

2009-09-24T18:49:00.001+10:00

AMSA have released the latest figures on the amount of dispersant used to clean up the surface oil contamination in the Timor Sea. See the chart in full at the AMSA website.

Antarctic bugs may clean up Arctic spills

2009-09-22T14:50:00.000+10:00

Microbes being used to remediate deisel spills by Australian scientists at Casey Base (Macquarie Island) may have a role to play in cleaning up fuel spills in the Artic.

The ABC has reported that spills have been occurring at Casey Base for decades and Dr Ian Snape of the Australian Antartic Division estimated that approximately 10 000 litres of deisle have been spilled in the Antartic.

Microbiologist Susan Ferguson stated that becuase of the length of time the spills have been occurring the microbes have evolved to metabolise the hydrocarbons in the soil due to decades of spills.

Because of the sensitive nature of the Antarctic environment the traditional method of oxygenation by turning the soil over was not possible. Instead the Australian team have devised a series of 500 air injection spikes or sparge spikes in the ground.

Dr Snape said "These go down to about a metre or so. It varies between half a metre and two metres, and we just pump compressed air in across all these sites and we sort of cycle through a whole range of sites there".

Dr Snape indicated that major oil companies have shown interest in the technology with a view to cleaning spills in the Arctic.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/22/2692828.htm

Slow news day - Coffee spill costs $200 000

2009-09-21T22:15:00.002+10:00

The jokes about the $200,000 cup of coffee are swirling in St. Louis.
But officials at the St. Louis Community College at Forest Park and its insurance company aren't laughing.
They have been left to foot the bill after a coffee maker that was rigged to a faucet and left on in a campus photo lab in July led to a ruptured water line, click for the full article.

Spill Station opens two new branches

2009-09-19T17:14:00.004+10:00

Spill Station, one of the largest players in the Australian spill control industry has announced on Ferret.com.au that they have newly opened branches in Victoria and Queensland. The Victorian branch is managed by Joe Ipsa will be moving from Werribee to Dandenong whilst the newly established Queensland branch is managed by Richard Seuren.

Latest Satellite image of WA spill

2009-09-18T16:54:00.002+10:00

AMSA has posted the latest satellite image of the oil slick emmanating from the leaking Montara Well in the Timor Sea.

AMSA Satellite Photo Link

Whilst the image shows areas of heavier contamination, observations from aircraft have indicated that a light oil sheen (light film of oil approx .0001mm in thickness) extends to Cartier Island and east of Ashmore Reef. Sheen is not considered to have a harmfull impact on shorlines Though it can be damaging to birdlife.

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Montara_Well_Head_Platform/2009September_MontaraLeakUpdate3.asp

Port to Purchase $300 000 Spill Equipment

2009-09-18T11:14:00.002+10:00

The Port of Newcastle will purchase $300 000 worth of new spill equipment to bolster marine spill response capabilities, Joe Tripodi, the NSW Minister for Ports and Waterways announced today.

The $300 000 will "allow the purchase of two new oil spill booms" and will help meet the costs of storage, deployment and recovery. Hydraulic reels will be purchased to overcome the problems associated with manual deployment of large marine booms.

Mr Tripodi said "The amim of this purchase is to ensure Newcastle Port Corporation can effectively manage a large oil spill in areas of the port that are more affected by tide, wind and wave action. This will greatly assist in reducing the potential impact of an oil spill on the port community while helping Newcastle Port Corporation meet the requirements of its Port Operating Licence."

Press release - NSW Government

Latest News: Chemical Spill on Federal Highway

2009-09-15T10:13:00.000+10:00

Northbound lanes of the Federal Highway remain blocked after a truck rolled over this morning, spilling its load of chemicals. The truck driver was uninjured in the crash.

Emergency services from NSW and the ACT have successfully managed to contain the spill and have put traffic diversions in place.

Inquiries into the cause of the spill are continuing and police have appealed for witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Excellent Article in the Australian - "Slow Motion Disaster"

2009-09-15T09:59:00.001+10:00

This article in todays Australian goes into more detail on the mechanics of fixing the leak than other articles I have read. Also some interesting commentrary regarding the use of dispersants.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26072526-30417,00.html

WA Spill 3rd Largest in Australian History

2009-09-14T10:20:00.000+10:00

A spokesman from PPTEP Australasia the company that operates the Montara Well Head in the Timor Sea yesterday admitted that the rig has been leaking approximately 400 barrels of oil per day for the previous three weeks. The spokesman also confirmed that the leak was likely to continue for a further three to four weeks.

The Australian newspaper has said today that those figures put this spill as Australias third largest (click link below)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26068817-5006789,00.html

Nice photo of the two rigs in the Timor Sea

2009-09-12T01:30:00.000+10:00

No new information in this but a nice photo of the two rigs in position.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,26059755-2761,00.html

Breaking News - Relief rig arrives

2009-09-11T13:26:00.000+10:00

The emergency rig has arrived at the Montara well head in the Timor Sea. The rig is expected to begin drilling a relief well on Monday in an effort to intersect the leaking pipe.

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200909/s2683007.htm

Interesting Stats on Dispersant use in WA leak

2009-09-11T12:36:00.000+10:00

AMSA has published a chart of dispersant use in the WA rig leak. It displays the types and amounts of dispersant used and the method of deployment.

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Montara_Well_Head_Platform/

AMSA Continues to Respond to Leak

2009-09-11T12:20:00.002+10:00

AMSA is continuing its staged approach to the management of the clean-up of oil leaking from the Montara well head platform in the Timor Sea.
The main area of containment/recovery and dispersant spraying operations is approximately 25 nautical miles by 70 nautical miles and heads north east from the platform.

This is an extract from the AMSA website, for the full article please click the link below.

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Environment_Protection/Montara_Well_Head_Platform/2009September_MontaraLeakResponse.asp

Molten Sulfur spill in South West Victoria causes not harm

2009-09-11T12:04:00.000+10:00

ABC Ballarat has reported that a spill of molten sulfur into a creek has caused no environemental harm. The spill occurred as a result of the truck rolling on the Hamilton Highway which was closed for 12 hours to allow a clean up by the Victorian EPA and the Country Fire Service. Testing conducted by the EPA confirmed that there was no environmental impact caused by the spill.

Govt Scientist questions the use of dispersant in WA spill

2009-09-10T09:37:00.001+10:00

Jamie Oliver a scientist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science has warned that dispersants will need to be used carefully in order to avoid damaging coral reefs in the area. Oliver said "it's important to look at the trade-off between avoiding having slicks on the surface, which might actually be detrimental to those organisms that breathe air and have to come up in the middle of the slick when they're trying to get air, and avoiding contact with organisms further down,"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/09/2680449.htm

Risk of spill from grounded bulk freighter in South Africa

2009-09-09T11:05:00.001+10:00

A 29-year-old Panamanian- registered bulk freighter Seli 1 was en route to Gibraltar with 30000t of coal and 660t of fuel on board when bad weather drove it onto a sandbar off Blouberg beach shortly before midnight on Monday. Her 25 crew were rescued.

The SA Maritime Safety Authority has asked salvors to prioritise the removal of the fuel from the stranded ship.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1062496

UN Secretary General urges Israel to compensate Lebanon for spill

2009-09-09T10:58:00.000+10:00

Ban Ki Moon has urged Israel to compensate the Lebanese govenment for an oil spill caused by the bombing of the el Jiyeh power station in 2006. Ban commended both Lebanon for its efforts towards remediating the spill and the international community for its support of the effort.

http://kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2024444&Language=en

Relief rig underway again

2009-09-09T10:31:00.001+10:00

The replacement tow ship arrived at the relief rig overnight and the relief rig was reported to be 513km from the Montara Field in the Timor sea. The operators of the rig leaking oil and gas into the Timor Sea PTT Exploration & Production Pcl said that it is expected to arrive tomorrow if good weather condition hold. The Australian Division of PTT Exploration & Production Pcl also stated that it may take 50 days to plug leaks from the well.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aw2FKWK5vzl4

Minor Fuel Spill on Brisbane Northside

2009-09-09T00:41:00.000+10:00

A 150L diesel fuel spill occured this afternoon as a result of a minor crash between a car and a truck at Stafford Heights. Emergency crews successfully deployed absorbents to contain and clean the spill.

Oil Spill Risk Assessment for Coastal Qld and the GBRMP

2009-09-08T11:00:00.000+10:00

This report was released in August by Maritime Safety Queensland. It could be a handy resource.

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Home/Environment/Oil_spill_risk_assessment/

Federal Government plans inquiry into WA oil spill.

2009-09-08T09:49:00.000+10:00

As reported by News.com today Federal Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson has announced that the government will create a new body to investigate such incidents as the WA oil spill and prevent future occurrences.

Ferguson reinforced that whilst the offshore drilling industry has a good record with "no blow outs in offshore Australia since 1984, and around 1,500 wells have been drilled safely over the last 25 years, there is no room for complacency,"

"We want to learn from this incident and take the measures necessary to stop it happening again."
The government plans to introduce an amendment to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2008 to "provide for a broad-ranging major incident investigation power".

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26039357-29277,00.html

Leaking Turkish shipwreck sparks ecological emergency in Madagascar

2009-09-07T12:03:00.000+10:00

A major oil and deisel spill from a Turkish freighter threatens an ecological disaster off the southern tip of Madagascar, local media reported Thursday. The MS GULSER ANA, bound for India with a cargo of 39,000 tonnes of phosphates, had to be abandoned by its 23-strong crew on August 26 a few kilometres off Cape Sainte Marie on the vast Indian Ocean island.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1498505.php/Leaking-Turkish-shipwreck-sparks-ecological-emergency-in-Madagascar

Coast Guard on alert following SuperFerry 9 sinking.

2009-09-07T11:49:00.001+10:00

The Philippine Daily Inquiror has reported that the Philippine Coast Guard have ordered an oil spill alert following the sinking of the doomed SuperFerry 9 and have disclosed that the vessel contained thousands of liters of automotive and industrial fuels.

It was reported that Coast Guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said on Sunday he ordered Coast Guard assets to go to the site, monitor the situation and launch an operation to prevent or mitigate an oil spill, in case of a leak from the vessel, which tipped off and capsized near the coast of Zamboanga peninsula on Sunday.
Tamayo said a Coast Guard staff specializing on oil spill has been sent to Zamboanga from Puerto Princesa to lead operations.

In a report, the Coast Guard noted that the 7,000-ton ship was carrying "200,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, 80,000 liters automotive diesel oil and 10,000 liters of lube oil."
The fuel, the agency said, was enough for a trip to Manila from General Santos City and back. The ship was not carrying dangerous or toxic cargo based on record, the report said.

Sewage Spill in Brisbane causes bus commuter chaos

2009-09-07T11:44:00.000+10:00

Bus drivers operating out of Bowen Hills Depot in Brisbane called a snap strike when they arrived at work to find raw sewage had spilled in their depot. The was reported to have pooled near their lunchroom and had spilled across the entrance to the depot.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/sewage-spill-forces-snap-bus-driver-strike-20090907-fd2m.html

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26036937-952,00.html

2009-09-07T11:38:00.000+10:00

In an update Bloomberg is reporting that the delay was caused by the towship losing power.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aPGDIjjFCe.0

Rescue rig delayed until Thursday

2009-09-07T11:28:00.000+10:00

The ABC has just reported that the drill rig being towed to the West Atlas rig to stop the oil and gas leak has been delayed due to a broken tow line. It is now expected that the rig will not arrive until Thursday.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/07/2678287.htm

2009-09-06T23:45:00.004+10:00

Latest from A.M.S.A.

You can find the latest official information on the WA oil spill here at the AMSA website - http://www.amsa.gov.au/about_amsa/corporate_information/Recent_Events/

2009-09-06T23:42:00.000+10:00

WA oil spill clean-up delayed

Posted 1 hour 0 minutes ago

Oil and gas have been flowing from the West Atlas rig in the Timor Sea for more than a fortnight. (Office of Senator Rachel Siewert: Chris Twomey)

A drill rig sent to stop an oil leak off the West Australian Kimberley coast has been delayed.

Oil and gas have been flowing from the West Atlas rig in the Timor Sea for more than a fortnight.
But it broke a tow line yesterday near Indonesia.
A relief vessel has been sent to continue towing the rig and it is expected to reach the spill on Thursday.
Earlier, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said discoloured water seen west of Darwin was not an oil slick.
The ABC filmed a substance resembling an oil slick in the Timor Sea, 120 kilometres west of Darwin, two days ago.
There were concerns oil spilling from the West Atlas rig had spread close to the Darwin coastline.
However AMSA said investigations proved the substance in question was a natural phenomenon, likely to be coral spawn or an algal bloom.
A spokeswoman for the authority said oil leaking from the rig would have dispersed naturally before it got anywhere near the Northern Territory coast.
AMSA said the oil slick from the leaking rig had come within 170 kilometres of the coast.
- ABC/AAP