WA: Oil and gas leak sparks emergency evacuation off WA coast

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2009
WA: Oil and gas leak sparks emergency evacuation off WA coast

Dozens of workers have been evacuated from a Timor Sea oil rig after an oil and gas spill.

Rig operator PTTEP Australasia says the oil and gas spill happened about 4am (WST)
today on the West Atlas rig .. operated by Norway's Seadrill.

A national clean-up plan has been activated after the incident on the offshore drilling
rig at the Montara development .. about 250km off the far north Kimberley coast.

None of the 69 people on board the rig was injured and were evacuated.

About 40 barrels of oil are believed to have spilt in the initial incident .. while
light oil was also discharged along with gas.

The extent of the spill and environmental damage isn't known.

Aircraft from the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre will begin aerial spraying of
the scene tomorrow.

AAP RTV ap/was/crh

KEYWORD: SPILL (PERTH)

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