Second attempt to plug leaking oil rig in Australia fails

Yahoo News 13 Oct 09;

SYDNEY (AFP) – A second attempt to plug a massive oil spill leaking from a rig off Australia's northwest failed Tuesday, but the operator said it hoped to try again within days.

Up to 400 barrels of oil have been pumped into the Timor Sea each day since the West Atlas drilling rig began leaking on August 21, forcing the evacuation of 69 workers, according to Bangkok-headed PTTEP Australasia.

The company failed in its first attempt last week to fix the leak at the Montara well-head platform, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) off the Australian coast.

PTTEP Australasia director Jose Martins said the second failure was disappointing but that each attempt improved the chances of success.

"Our drilling experts are hopeful that we will not need such a long side track to hit it on the next pass," Martins said.

He said the company was hoping to make its next attempt to plug the leak this weekend.

PTTEP is drilling a relief well some 2.6 kilometres (1.6 miles) under the seabed to divert the leaking oil and gas. Heavy mud will be used to plug the leaking bore.

The spill is reportedly Australia's worst since offshore drilling began more than 40 years ago, and ecologists fear the toxic cocktail of oil and dispersant chemicals could threaten marine and coastal species.

Fifty-five days and counting: oil still spewing from rig
Marian Wilkinson, Sydney Morning Herald 15 Oct 09;

ONE of the worst oil spills in Australia's history has entered its 55th day after a second attempt to stem a leaking well in the Timor Sea failed, deepening concerns among environmental scientists that the impact on marine life will be felt for decades.

''Each day the leaks continue it's adding to the risk and threat this toxic spill poses to precious marine life in this area,'' said the WWF wildlife group oceans campaigner, Dr Gilly Llewellyn.

''Oil can be a slow and silent killer,'' she said. ''It can take a long time to manifest itself on marine populations''.

The spill, which is now about 160 kilometres off the north-west coast of Australia, began on August 21 when the Montara offshore drilling rig owned by the Thai oil company PTTEP suffered a well head accident. Oil began pouring into the Timor Sea at an estimated 300 to 400 barrels a day and 69 people were evacuated from the platform.

At its peak, satellite images showed the spill had spread over 7000 square nautical miles, crossed into Indonesian waters and come close to the marine reserves of Ashmore and Cartier reefs.

The federal Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, whose department is responsible for offshore drilling safety, has promised a commission of inquiry after the well has been plugged.

A spokesman for Mr Ferguson yesterday described the failure to stop the leak as ''disappointing'' but said it was ''important that the company remains focused on proceeding safely with the third attempt. This is a very difficult technical operation and it will take time to do the job safely and effectively.''

The WWF says that up to 15 species of whale and dolphin, more than 30 species of seabird and five species of turtle are the potential victims of the Montara spill. It also estimates that up to 30,000 sea snakes and 16,000 turtles may have already been affected by the slick.

The Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, told the Herald the spill was ''a critical issue of concern'' and he expected to receive a report next week from a team of biologists sent to monitor the impact on marine life. A wildlife response team has also been stationed in Broome while four vessels from the Australian Maritime Safety Agency are still working to contain the spill.

Mr Garrett also expressed concern at the continuing leak.

''While I acknowledge the complexity of the task, I am concerned that these first two attempts at interception failed and certainly hope the next succeeds,'' he said.

Mr Garrett's department is working with the company on a plan to monitor the long-term impact of the spill on marine life which is expected to be finalised soon.

The Australasian director of PTTEP, Jose Martins, said yesterday that the company would make a third attempt to stop the leak on Saturday.