AMSA's operations are continuing

10 November 2009

AMSA’s response operations to the Montara well head platform are now focused on the “mopping up” stage of the incident. This stage continues to involve daily observation flights that locate and verify any residual patches of oil.

Reports from these flights indicate oil released in the early stages of the leak have formed patches of highly weathered oil that have been sighted south-west of the Montara wellhead platform and in the Holothuria Banks area. Sightings of natural phenomena are also confirmed in this area.

Clean up operations are focused on the Holothuria Banks area to recover these isolated patches of emulsified oil, that have a consistency like chocolate mousse. Given their location they are more difficult to recover with larger vessels, therefore recovery is most effective by shallow draft oil recovery craft, known as Marco vessels. Marco vessels are custom designed to collect surface oil and are more manoeuvrable within this area. These vessels are due to arrive to the area in the coming days. AMSA is confident the use of these vessels will be highly effective.

The use of containment and recovery vessels continues to the south-west of the the platform. There is still no impact upon any shoreline areas.