Australia Reports Montara Wellhead Leak Stopped, Clean Up Ongoing

The Australian Maritime Safety will continue its clean-up operations in the Timor Sea despite the successful ‘kill’ to the Montara wellhead yesterday.

It is uncertain how long the clean-up operations will continue, however, for the foreseeable future AMSA will have vessels in the vicinity of the incident performing containment and recovery operations as necessary.

As there is no new oil coming from the platform, dispersant applications will cease.

Twice daily observations flights will continue until AMSA is satisfied that there is no longer a need for direction of clean-up operations with surface vessels and that there are no longer any substantial oil patches visible.

Throughout the duration of this operation, large numbers of personnel, and equipment have been mobilised in remote locations and under extreme conditions. AMSA is appreciative of all efforts put into the clean-up operation to this point and for the ongoing dedication and commitment of all response personnel across the various agencies, industry and departments.

PTTEP Australasia has also cooperated and assisted with the availability of resources and personnel involved in the clean-up operations.

Some 300 people have been on deck every day of the incident assisting with the clean-up operation including aircraft and vessel crews, National Response Team personnel, industry representatives and State/NT and Commonwealth government personnel.

Assets have included a variety of aircraft both for dispersant application and observation and direction of surface crews and a large flotilla of surface vessels involved in dispersant application, water spraying and containment and recovery operations.

To respond to an incident of this type for such a protracted period of time and to prevent oil from impacting on shorelines, has been a mammoth effort. Isolated patches of oil remain a significant distance from the Western Australian and Indonesian coastlines and from marine parks.

To ensure our efforts are maintained, AMSA will continue to coordinate clean-up operations until further notice.

Topics: AMSA, Australia, Australian Maritime Safety, clean up, environment, Governance, Montara oil spill, Montara wellhead, observation flights, oil leak, oil patches, oil platform, surface vessels, Timor Sea

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