Video information is released by the State Oceanic Administration at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, on July 5, 2011, showing investigation results about an oil leak accident concerning the China National Offshore Oil Corporation. The oil leak near the Penglai 19-3 oilfield in Bohai Bay in north China has been largely cleaned up while causing pollution to a certain degree, according to the press conference. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) — ConocoPhillips China (COPC), a subsidiary company under the U.S. energy giant ConocoPhillips, “should take the blame” for the oil leak near the Penglai 19-3 oilfield in Bohai Bay in north China, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said Tuesday.
The incident, which took place last month, has polluted an area of 840 sq-kms, causing “a certain level” of damage to the oceanic environment, said the administration.
The field is under the operation of COPC under a joint development agreement with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, the country’s largest offshore oil producer.
According to the administration, the leak from platform-B resulted from increased pressure of strata when workers injected water into the strata.
The leak from platform-C was due to a surge in the well coupled with leaks on the side, said the SOA, without giving details.
As of Monday, a total of 70 cubic meters of water-oil hybrid in the area had been cleaned up, but “a small amount” of oil film can still be seen on the sea surface, according to the SOA.
Source: Xinhua