Another spill in Bohai Bay
CNOOC is facing more expense and damage to its reputation after a second oil spill in China's northeastern Bohai Bay.
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) reported another oil spill off the Jinzhou 9-3 oil-drilling rig in Liaodong, Bohai Bay. The slick was attributed to a broken underwater pipe that was damaged by the anchors of ships passing through the bay, according to CNOOC's official report.
CNOOC claims to have already cleaned up the slick and estimate that only 0.38 cubic metres of oil were leaked. The company activated emergency response procedures and shut down Platform B of the oilfield, reducing production by approximately 1,600 barrels-per-day.
Though not on the scale of the Penglai 19-3 oil spill in June this year, where a jointly-owned ConocoPhillips China and CNOOC plant leaked and polluted over 5,550 square km of water, the spill comes just after the Chinese government began conducting comprehensive inspections of all coastal plants for potential pollution risks. The inspections will pay “special attention” to large state-owned petrochemical enterprises and are aimed at enhancing the awareness of safe production and environmental hazards.
After the earlier spill in Bohai, CNOOC pledged to improve its “management system” to prevent further accidents, whilst partner ConocoPhillips China has announced that it will establish a fund to rectify any environmental damage the bay area caused by the spill.
