Shell rig leaks hundreds of tons of oil
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The UK government said yesterday that hundreds of tons of oil have leaked into the North Sea from a Royal Dutch Shell rig.
The company estimated yesterday that 54,600 gallons of oil have leaked into the North Sea from the Gannet Alpha oil rig off Scotland's eastern coast.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change said the leak was small compared with the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, but was still substantial for the UK's continental shelf. The government said the oil would disperse naturally and was not expected to reach the shore.
It said the UK's offshore oil industry had a strong safety record, "which is why it is disappointing that this spill has happened. We take any spill very seriously and we will be investigating the causes of the spill and learning any lessons from the response to it."
The rig, 180 kilometers east of the city of Aberdeen, is operated by Shell and co-owned by Shell and Esso, a subsidiary of US oil firm Exxon Mobil.
The government said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which monitors the waters around the UK, was making twice-daily flights over the area to monitor the situation.
Glen Cayley, technical director of Shell's exploration and production activities, called the spill "significant", given the amount of oil that generally spills into the North Sea.
Stuart Housden, director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, said razorbills, puffins and guillemots could be at risk.
"We know oil of any amount, if in the wrong place, at the wrong time, can have a devastating impact on marine life," he said.
The company estimated yesterday that 54,600 gallons of oil have leaked into the North Sea from the Gannet Alpha oil rig off Scotland's eastern coast.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change said the leak was small compared with the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, but was still substantial for the UK's continental shelf. The government said the oil would disperse naturally and was not expected to reach the shore.
It said the UK's offshore oil industry had a strong safety record, "which is why it is disappointing that this spill has happened. We take any spill very seriously and we will be investigating the causes of the spill and learning any lessons from the response to it."
The rig, 180 kilometers east of the city of Aberdeen, is operated by Shell and co-owned by Shell and Esso, a subsidiary of US oil firm Exxon Mobil.
The government said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which monitors the waters around the UK, was making twice-daily flights over the area to monitor the situation.
Glen Cayley, technical director of Shell's exploration and production activities, called the spill "significant", given the amount of oil that generally spills into the North Sea.
Stuart Housden, director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, said razorbills, puffins and guillemots could be at risk.
"We know oil of any amount, if in the wrong place, at the wrong time, can have a devastating impact on marine life," he said.
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