Four of the world's biggest oil companies have unveiled a $US1 billion plan to build and deploy a rapid response system for use in any future oil spill disasters in the Gulf of Mexico.
The system is intended to be able to capture and contain a spill as large as 100,000 barrels per day in waters as deep as 10,000 feet.
Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips - but not BP which owns the ruptured Macondo well in the Gulf - announced the plan overnight as the industry struggles to repair its shattered reputation in the wake of the Macondo disaster.
The companies said the new system would be flexible, adaptable and able to begin mobilisation within 24 hours, and would be compatible with a wide range of equipment and conditions.
It would also be "pre-engineered, constructed, tested and ready for rapid deployment in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico" by a team of engineering experts from the four companies.
However, ExxonMobil would take the lead role to ensure engineering, procurement and construction could proceed immediately.
The oil giants said the system would include specially designed subsea containment equipment connected by manifolds, jumpers and risers to specialist storage and offloading vessels.
The system will be operated and maintained by a non-profit organization to be established by the four companies, tagged the Marine Well Containment Company.
Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil all have major oil and gas interests in WA, notably at the massive North West Shelf and Gorgon gas projects, while ConocoPhillips operates the Bayu-Undan project in the Timor Sea, potentially opening the door for a similar system to be constructed for use in Australian waters.
Last year a well failure at the Thai-owned Montara oil field in the Timor Sea spilt millions of litres of light crude and condensate into the ocean for ten weeks before it could be contained.
A government commission of inquiry reported its findings on the cause of, and response to, the Montara disaster last month which is expected to lead to sweeping changes to the regulation of Australia's offshore oil and gas industry.
