Australian regulator tells Montara opeator to improve emergency management
23 June 2017
Australian oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA has issued an improvement notice to PTTEP Australasia for non-compliance related to its Montara operations off Western Australia. Nopsema said recent inspections at PTTEP’s Perth headquarters and offshore facilities had identified that emergency management personnel lacked the required level of spill response competency.
Montara FPSO - Image: PTTEP
“The action has been taken to ensure sufficient response capability, as it relates to the competency, skills and knowledge of emergency management personnel, is in place to respond effectively in the event of an oil spill,” the regulator said.
PTTEP has been given 90 days to ensure those capabilities are developed and maintained, as well as submit a revised environment plan.
The company said it took seriously any issues which might potentially affect environmental management at Montara and would take measures to address gaps in personnel training and external support to supplement our existing oil spill response capacity and ensure compliance as soon as practicable.
PTTEP, a subsidiary of the Thai state-owned oil company PTT, suffered a catastrophic oil leak and rig fire at Montara eight years ago which led to widespread pollution in the Timor Sea at a rate of 300,000 litres of oil and gas a day over 74 days.
The company resumed production at Montara in 2013 using a FPSO vessel.
Indonesia’s Maritime Ministry last month launched a $2.7 billion civil action against PTTEP over the oil spill.
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