INFORMAL discussions have begun on the possible development of a major oil containment and capture system for use in Australia in the event of a catastrophic oil spill like that in the Gulf of Mexico.
INFORMAL discussions have begun on the possible development of a major oil containment and capture system for use in Australia in the event of a catastrophic oil spill like that in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil giants Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and ExxonMobil last week announced they would spend $US1 billion to build and deploy a rapid response system for use in the Gulf of Mexico.
All four companies have major operations in Australian waters, as does BP, the owner of the failed Macondo well in the gulf.
The system will be able to capture and contain a spill as large as 100,000 barrels per day in waters as deep as 10,000 feet, and could be deployed within 24 hours of a major accident.
The move comes as Australia’s oil sector awaits a federal response to the Commission of Inquiry into last year’s Montara oil well disaster in the Timor Sea.
The commission handed its report to the government last month, but a response has been deferred until after the federal election.
However, WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore confirmed that preliminary discussions had begun to evaluate whether a similar system could be developed for Australian waters, though no concrete proposals had yet been put forward.
“I am aware of some informal discussions on this issue but the state government is yet to receive a detailed proposal from industry or the federal government on an improved oil containment system,” Mr Moore told WA Business News.
“The state government would support any reasonable proposal from industry to improve environmental, health and occupational safety systems.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson noted the US plan involved “voluntary arrangements” by the four companies, but said the Gillard government would continue to work with industry on “appropriate risk mitigation measures” in Australia.
A spokeswoman for the four companies said the US system would be designed for use in the gulf and that it may not be suited to conditions elsewhere, but that they understood there may be interest in such systems in other oil producing regions.
“The companies will continue to work with government and industry to mitigate the risks of operating in deepwater and harsh environments,” she said.
WWF Australia director Paul Gamblin said there was clearly room for vast improvement in responding to major oil spills, but the key was better prevention.
“Of great concern in WA is that as we approach the one-year anniversary of the Montara blowout off the Kimberley, it’s just business as usual out there,” he said.
