Subscribe to RSS feedPTTEP finally plugs West Atlas oil leak
The oil leak which caused a massive fire at the Montara well head platform and surrounding the West Atlas drilling rig in the Timor Sea on Sunday has been plugged and the fire extinguished.
The leaking well was shutdown at about 1715 hrs Darwin time yesterday after well control experts onboard the West Triton rig pumped about 3400 barrels of heavy mud plus 1000 barrels of brine down the relief well at 1440 hrs, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Australasia said.
The main fire at the Montara platform was extinguished at 1548 hrs, the oil rig operator said.
PTTEP will monitor the site for the next 24 to 48 hours to ensure it remained stable, PTTEP chief financial officer Jose Martins said.
"We still have a lot more work to do and our priority is now to determine the best method of plugging the H1 well bore," Mr Martins said.
"We do not under-estimate the significantly increased technical complexity, logistical challenges and hazards of the work required in the wake of the damage caused by the fire to the well head platform and the West Atlas rig."
PTTEP has been trying to plug Australia's third largest oil spill into the sea since late August.
Mr Martins said PTTEP remained committed to fully funding the spill clean up excercise.
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