Relief that oil leak stopped
04 Nov 2009
WWF-Australia today welcomed the news from PTTEP Australasia that they have staunched the flow from the Montara H1 well and put out the main fire on the West Atlas platform.
"Stopping the flow is the first critical step and we are relieved that yesterday's operation appears successful. However, we are still left with the legacy of more than ten weeks of toxic oil, gas and condensate spilling into a sensitive and vulnerable tropical marine ecosystem, teeming with marine wildlife," said WWF-Australia Conservation Director Dr Gilly Llewellyn.
WWF-Australia now calls on Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd to become directly involved in the environmental emergency that still surrounds the West Atlas oil spill, and confirm that there will be a full, transparent and far-reaching inquiry with powers similar to the Cullen inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster in the UK or the Longford Royal Commission in Australia.
With more than 28,000 barrels of toxic oil and condensate released into the Timor Sea off the Kimberley coast since the leak began, the situation now demands absolute transparency and the full attention of the highest levels of government.
"This is still a crisis of international importance and the eyes of the world are watching how Australia responds. We cannot afford to have a weak inquiry that does not have the powers to access all information and to subpoena anyone in its goal of getting to the bottom of how this environmental emergency occurred," Dr Llewellyn continued.
"We still have a toxic cocktail created by the thousands of barrels of oil and condensate that have been pouring into the sea, along with the thousands of litres of dispersant. All of this in one of the world’s most intact tropical marine ecosystems.
"The inquiry must have the scope to look at what the real issues are here and to what extent the region is at risk of similar events in the future. Until we have learnt what went wrong here, the government should not approve further developments in such sensitive, vulnerable and pristine tropical marine habitats."
The toxic slick from the leaking West Atlas oil well covers thousands of square kilometres - at least 100 times the area of Sydney Harbour - and is having a significant impact on wildlife in Australia, with possible unconfirmed impacts also in Indonesia.
Toxic effects on animals from oil spills may take generations to manifest. After the Exxon Valdez disaster in Prince William Sound, a pod of orcas that was exposed to the oil still shows no sign of recovering and numbers have dropped from 22 to seven individuals.
"Oil can be a silent and slow killer, with a range of toxic effects on marine wildlife, including affects on digestion, metabolic pathways and reproduction," said Dr Llewellyn.
"In Alaska, 20 years on, we are still seeing the toxic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on populations of marine species, including fish and whales. "Just because the Timor Sea oil slick is not washing up on beaches now does not mean it won't leave a legacy of impacts for generations."
More information
Rachael Hoy, National Media Manager, WWF-Australia
Mobile: 0407 204 594
Email: rhoy@wwf.org.au
Gilly Llewellyn, Conservation Manager, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1227
Mobile: 0406 380 801
Email: Gllewellynn@wwf.org.au
