Caught in slick: Spinner dolphins, observed during WWF's survey of the spill area, surface in an area of extensive oil sheen and wax particles, believed to come from the blown out well
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Montara 'should never have happened'
The deputy chief of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) today claimed the Montara blowout should never have happened, adding that established safeguards exist to prevent such incidents occurring.
His statement, made to this morning's edition of the Australian newspaper, come as a further technical hiccup delayed PTTEP's fourth attempt to plug the leak.
APPEA deputy chief executive mark McCallum told the Australian that the Montara blowout has tarnished the sector's "excellent environmental record".
"There are safeguards and technological measures available designed to prevent blow outs," McCallum told the newspaper.
"These incidents haven't happened for the last 25 years (in Australia) and something has apparently gone wrong here.
"It shouldn't have happened."
However, McCallum denied he was criticising PTTEP.
The federal Environment Department has confirmed the death of 17 birds from the spill, and a survey by WWF Australia recorded hundreds of dolphins, sea birds, sea snakes and flatback turtles in the spill area.
In a meeting held on Wednesday, Woodside, Apache and other companies operating in Australia's offshore play agreed PTTEP's efforts to intercept a 25cm-wide cement casing surrounding a damaged pipeline were the best solution.
A fourth attempt to stop the leak has been delayed several times, in part, because a specialised drilling guidance tool failed on Saturday.
PTTEP said an attempt would probably be made later this week.