Oil Spill in Sumatra, No Explosion, Says ConocoPhillips

Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 14 Dec 09;

US energy giant ConocoPhillips strongly denied on Monday that there was an explosion on their site in Musi Banyuasin district, South Sumatra, as has been reported by the local media since Friday.

Residents from Sukamaju village told local media outlets that last Wednesday they were startled by a loud bang that came from the ConocoPhillips’ site. The villagers also said that an oil spill, believed related to the explosion, had polluted their rubber plantations.

ConocoPhillips admitted on Friday that it had discovered a leak in a 12-inch subterranean oil pipeline within the Corridor Block PSC but denied there was an explosion earlier in the week.

“There was no explosion. There was some leakage from one of our pipes,” said Jacob Kastanja, the company’s communications manager. “We have already taken the necessary steps to stop the flow of oil and have isolated the area for public safety reasons.”

The leak, Jacob said, had been successfully repaired and the pipeline was able to resume normal operations within 24 hours.

“Our response team is currently on site, cleaning up the spill area. The recovery effort will be conducted in the safest and most efficient way possible,” he said. “No personnel were injured and there was no impact on a nearby rubber tree plantation, which is located on higher ground. The oil spill happened underground and was relatively small so its effects were minimal.”

He said the company, supported by BP Migas (the country’s upstream oil and gas regulator), was still assessing the incident, adding that the leak had been contained within a 100-square-meter area and its volume was estimated at 15 barrels.

Ahmad Najib, head of South Sumatra Environmental Agency, said it had not received any reports regarding the incident.