Australia-based Triangle Energy confirmed an oil spill that occurred on 24 July at its Cliff Head Alpha Offshore Platform, located approximately 14 km offshore in the Perth Basin, around 300 km north of Perth. An aerial and shoreline surveillance on Thursday however showed no hydrocarbons in the marine environment, the company added.
According to initial reports on the incident, severe weather and sea conditions caused a small crack in the flow meter (Coriolis) on the CH6 Well resulting in a loss of produced fluid (a mix of water and oil) and the interruption to production.
Triangle responded immediately, in accordance with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) accepted Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP). Under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, the incident is classified as a Level 1 (low level) oil spill, which is in the range of zero to 10,000 litres.
Triangle’s Person-In-Charge observed the loss of produced fluid during an inspection on the platform at 7:20am and shut down the affected Well. Production from additional Wells was shut down at 7:45am, while an engineering investigation commenced.
The company also notified all Regulatory Authorities including NOPSEMA, the Department of Transport (DOT), the Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety, and AMSA, while it activated its contracts with The Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) in support of management of the incident.
Triangle remains of the opinion that environmental impact will be negligible due to containment of produced fluid on the platform itself and the extreme sea conditions which naturally dissipate this type of fluid. Weather and sea conditions prevented any access to the Offshore Cliff Head Alpha Platform at any time on Thursday 26 July 2018. Triangle continues to liaise with all Regulatory Authorities and will continue to monitor and assess the situation,
said the company in its latest update.
