How big was the Montara oil spill?

How big was the Montara oil spill?

The Montara oil spill was an oil and gas leak and subsequent slick that took place in the Montara oil field in the Timor Sea, off the northern coast of Western Australia. It is considered one of Australia’s worst oil disasters….

Montara oil spill
Area 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi)

How much oil was leaked in the Montara oil spill?

Ten years ago on Wednesday an estimated 40 million litres of oil leaked from a faulty rig in the Montara field, in the Timor Sea, and for 10 weeks spread over tens of thousands of square kilometres of ocean.

Who was responsible for the Montara oil spill?

PTTEP
The commission found that the Australian subsidiary of the Thai oil company PTTEP was negligent in its operation of the Montara oilwell, 250km off the coast of Western Australia, which exploded in August 2009.

How did the Montara oil spill happen?

On 21 August 2009 the Montara wellhead platform drill rig owned by PTTEP Australasia suffered a well head accident, resulting in the uncontrolled discharge of oil and gas. The discharge of oil and gas was stopped on 3 November 2009.

What is the biggest oil spill in Australia?

The Montara blowout
The Montara blowout is considered one of Australia’s worst environmental disasters.

What caused the Bahia Paraiso oil spill?

On 28 January 1989, the oil tanker Bahia Paraiso was en route to Palmer station, an Argentine scientific station, with 130 tourists and 810 tonnes of diesel oil onboard. The vessel ran aground only 3 km from its destination, opposite Arthur Harbor (Antarctica), causing severe damage to the hull and the machine room.

What do oil spills do to the ocean?

Depending on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds, sea turtles and mammals, and also can harm fish and shellfish. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water-repelling abilities of a bird’s feathers, exposing them to the harsh elements.

Who cleans Australian oil spills?

Oil spill control agents (OSCA) may assist in oil spill clean up in Australian waters.

What does the government do when there is an oil spill?

The Federal Government has the responsibility to respond to oil spills pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), the Oil Pollution Act, and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

What was the worst oil spill in history?

On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations.

Can oil spills be cleaned up?

Dispersants and booms and skimmers are the most frequently used methods to clean up ocean oil spills. All methods have advantages and disadvantages. The effectiveness depends on the situation – the amount and type of oil, the ocean currents and tides and the weather.

How long does oil stay in soil?

It doesn’t degrade over 20 to 30 years and heating oil contamination tends to stay at the tank source. Excavation is the most economical and effective way to clean up contaminated soil.

Does dirt absorb oil?

I learned that the dirt is the most efficient material to absorb motor oil spills.

Does oil soak into the ground?

Left unattended, oil spills will eventually migrate through the soil to the nearest water source, such as a sewer or river. Every organisation has the responsibility to clean up their own oil spills as quickly as possible and to minimise the impact on the environment.

How are birds cleaned after an oil spill?

Once stable, oiled birds go through a series of tub washes with a low concentration of Dawn dishwashing liquid in clean water.

Who pays to clean up oil spills?

By law, the parties responsible for the use, transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances and oil are liable for costs. This liability applies to the cost of containment, cleanup, and damages resulting from a release related to their own activities.

Which country has the most oil spills?

Q: Where do most oil spills happen in the world?

  • Persian Gulf (108 spills)
  • North Sea (75 spills)
  • Japan (60 spills)
  • Baltic Sea (52 spills)
  • United Kingdom and English Channel (49 spills)
  • Malaysia and Singapore (39 spills)
  • West coast of France and north and west coasts of Spain (33 spills)
  • Korea (32 spills)

What is the Montara oil spill in Australia?

Montara oil spill From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Montara oil spill was an oil and gas leak and subsequent slick that took place in the Montara oil field in the Timor Sea, off the northern coast of Western Australia. It is considered one of Australia’s worst oil disasters.

What was the Timor Sea oil spill?

Satellite image of the oil slick in the Timor Sea, September 2009. The Montara oil spill was an oil and gas leak and subsequent slick that took place in the Montara oil field in the Timor Sea, off the northern coast of Western Australia.

How much oil is in the Montara oil leak?

The Australian Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism estimated that the Montara oil leak could be as high as 2,000 barrels (320 m 3)/day, five times the 400 barrels (64 m 3)/day estimated by PTTEP Australasia.

Who was involved in the Montara oil well explosion?

Houston-based Halliburton was involved in cementing the well. The Montara field is located off the Kimberley coast, 250 km (160 mi) north of Truscott airbase, and 690 km (430 mi) west of Darwin. Sixty-nine workers were safely evacuated from the West Atlas jackup drilling rig when the blowout occurred.