Clean up: PTTEP is working with AMSA to disperse the oil leaking from the Montara well
West Triton on its way to Montara
The Seadrill jack-up West Triton is set to leave Batam Island "within hours" as Thai operator PTTEP continues clean up work after a blowout and oil leak at the Montara development site in the Timor Sea.
PTTEP spokesman David Tasker confirmed that the rig was ready to be towed from the Indonesian port, adding: "They are working under a pretty tight timeframe, and we are confident the rig will be on its way within hours."
It is expected to take 16 days to tow the jack-up to a site within 2 kilometres of the Montara wellhead platform.
Once in position, the West Triton will spud a relief well which in a bid to stem the flow of hydrocarbons from a subsea blowout at the Montara development site.
The relief well - which could take up to four weeks to complete - will be used to inject heavy mud into the leaking well bore.
PTTEP also said it is looking at alternatives to control the well flow.
It is sourcing alternative aircraft, possibly a Boeing 747 transport plane, to fly equipment from Singapore to Darwin to deluge the Montara well head platform and the West Atlas.
Once the equipment arrives in Darwin and passes safety checks, it will be used for deluge work at the site. PTTEP estimates that it will take four days for the checks to be carried out.
Meanwhile, small fixed wing aircraft were today deluging the leak area. Their work was supported by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) larger observation aircraft.
The company added that extra equipment has also been sourced from Exmouth and Melbourne and will be fitted to a PTTEP work vessel in Darwin. The vessel will then return to the Timor Sea to carry out surface spraying of dispersants in support of AMSA's airborne operation.
PTTEP added it is covering the costs of the AMSA oil dispersal operations.
- All of Upstream's coverage of the Montara spill is available in the related articles section to the right of this story