Negligence Likely Cause of Penglai Leak

The Penglai 19-3 oil leak, which polluted 6,200 square kilometres in the Chinese Sea in June 2011, is said to have been caused by illegal operation, according to China's ocean authority. Results of an official investigation show ConocoPhillips, the operator, did not follow its development plan for the oilfield's two platforms in Bohai Bay and affected the stability between layers under the seabed, which triggered the spill. 

The United States energy giant was also late in responding to the leak, said the State Oceanic Administration. The findings contradict the oil company's earlier explanation that a leak detected on 4^th June  was caused by a natural fault and may have been activated by reservoir pressure.

 

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), a partner with ConocoPhillips in the oilfield project, said in an e-mail statement that it will assist the US oil firm to deal with the subsequent issues in a proper manner.

The probe into the leak, launched in August 2011, was conducted by officials from the ministries of environmental protection, transport, agriculture, land and resources, and the State administrations of work safety, oceans and energy resources. Lawyers and environmentalists applauded the release of the investigation and said the result will accelerate the legal procedure.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, agreed and added that man-made errors and natural faults are totally different explanations for the incident.

CNOOC said on 24th October 2011 that the leaks had been sealed by reservoir pressure reduction and a series of technological measures. However, the latest daily monitoring report released by the ocean watchdog's North China Sea branch said a 20,000-square-metre oil sheen had been detected and cleaned near platform C.

Although progress has been made, some lawyers and affected fishermen are hoping authorities will make more efforts to investigate the link between the spill and economic losses.

Wang Haijun, a Beijing lawyer representing eleven environmental groups in filing a lawsuit against ConocoPhillips and CNOOC, said the key in getting compensation for the victims is to prove the spill directly caused the death of scallops, shrimps and sea cucumbers.

 

Yang Jizhen, chairman of the Laoting Fisheries Association in Hebei province, said his lawsuit against ConocoPhillips was rejected because he does not have enough evidence.