CLEAN UP OPERATIONS REMAIN ONGOING IN TIMOR SEA

21 October 2009

Ongoing calm conditions in the Timor Sea are continuing to allow incident response teams to undertake containment and recovery operations within the vicinity of the Montara wellhead platform. As of 20 October 2009 figures indicate a total of 457,000 litres of recovered product (a combination of oil and water), 277,000 litres of which is oil, has been removed from the environment.

These operations are being coordinated by daily over flights with trained observers on board who direct surface vessels to patches of oil. This successful use of containment and recovery activities is relatively unusual considering the distance of these operations off shore.

The majority of the oil remains within the close vicinity of the rig to the south and south west. The latest confirmed observations of oil reported by surveillance aircraft are approximately 201 kilometres from the West Australian coast and approximately 257 kilometres from the Indonesian coast.

The latest satellite image* confirms the daily operational reports that the location and proximity of the oil remains close to the rig itself and is currently posing no threat to environmentally sensitive reef areas.
Contrary to current media reporting, Australian taxpayers are not meeting costs for the clean-up in the Timor Sea from the Montara wellhead platform. PTTEP Australasia has provided AMSA with a written confirmation that they will meet all costs associated with the clean-up and have met all costs invoiced to them to date.

*The TERRA satellite is part of the Earth Observing System (EOS), established by US National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Montara wellhead platform is illustrated by the black cross in the centre of the image.

Media inquiries:     Tracey Jiggins 0418164901

The latest satellite image - click for full view.