Coasts and marine

Montara oil spill

On 21 August the Montara wellhead platform drill rig owned by PTTEP Australasia suffered a well head accident, resulting in the uncontrolled discharge of oil and gas. The discharge of oil and gas was stopped on 3 November 2009.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is coordinating the emergency spill response, in accordance with Australia's National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (the national plan).

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is responsible for ensuring the implementation of a plan of action to help any wildlife that might be affected by the oil spill in Commonwealth waters and to respond to any possible impacts in Commonwealth marine reserves in the region.

The Department has also taken on the role of Environmental and Scientific Coordinator under the national plan, and is working with PTTEP Australasia to ensure that a comprehensive, long-term monitoring plan is put in place.

Wildlife plan of action

Since the spill was reported, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has been working closely with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and other relevant federal and state agencies to put in place a plan of action to help any wildlife that might be affected by the oil spill in Commonwealth waters and to respond to any possible impacts in nearby Commonwealth marine reserves.

This plan has been put together by a wildlife expert from Queensland's Department of Environment and Resource Management who coordinated the wildlife response to the Moreton Bay oil spill earlier this year.

The plan of action includes measures for treating any wildlife found that might be affected by oil at Ashmore and Cartier marine reserves, which are within about 80 nautical miles of the Montara site.

It also includes ensuring appropriate response equipment is on site at Ashmore Reef should it be needed.

Customs and Border Protection officers on site at Ashmore are also regularly surveying the reserve for any identifiable impacts.

The Department is continuing to work closely with the Western Australian government, which has plans in place to deal with any oil affected wildlife that might be found in state waters or come ashore on the Western Australian coastline.

Report Wildlife: if oil affected wildlife is observed in Commonwealth waters please see below for instructions on how to report the incident. Please report wildlife found in State waters to the Oil Pollution hotline on 08 9480 9924

For more information on the region visit www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/north-west

EPBC Act

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, has formally exempted the company's use of a floating jack up oil rig to relieve pressure on the leaking oil well under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. He did this on grounds that it was in the national interest to do so because the consequences of allowing the spill to continue whilst an environmental impact assessment was prepared would have been far worse than any impacts that might arise from actions to stem the flow of oil.

Environmental monitoring plan

The Australian Government has reached agreement with the company responsible for the rig, PTTEP Australasia, for a long-term environmental monitoring program to be put in place. The program will provide a longer term understanding of the impacts of the spill on the marine environment, in addition to the operational monitoring, surveillance and wildlife program already underway in the region.

Experts from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO and relevant state and territory agencies have provided input to ensure that the monitoring program is appropriate and robust. It will cover both short- and long-term environmental effects of the Montara oil spill and will include marine life surveying, wildlife and habitat studies, continued water quality testing and shoreline ecological assessments.

Environmental monitoring studies

As part of the Australian Government's response, aerial and water based surveillance of the region is undertaken daily. Trained observers, in addition to reporting information on the operational response to the leak, report any sightings of wildlife in the area.

As part of the monitoring effort, a team of marine biologists has conducted a survey of marine life in the region surrounding the Montara platform and Ashmore islands. The study was undertaken by three marine biologists to provide a census of birds, whales, dolphins, marine turtles and sea snakes in the area and to identify any impacts to those species as a result of the spill. The report on the survey is available. The results build on our existing knowledge of wildlife in the area and the spill, and will inform ongoing monitoring activity and support the targeting of response efforts.

As part of the Operational Monitoring Plan for the Montara Well Release Timor Sea, a five day Shoreline Assessment was completed on the 25th October. The report on the survey is available. The survey was carried out to determine if any hydrocarbons were present within the intertidal sediments of Ashmore Island and Cartier Islet and to provide a baseline of the environments for future surveys that may be required within the longer term monitoring plan.

Sample analysis

Toxicology tests are used to determine if animals collected in the region have been affected by oil. The results are used to inform the environmental response to the spill and to target monitoring efforts. Further investigation into the impact of the oil spill on marine life in the region will be monitored in the long term as part of the scientific environmental monitoring program.

Tests have been conducted on four fish specimens collected in the vicinity of the spill. Expert analyses of the specimens show no oil contamination. The report on the analysis is available and the results are used to inform the environmental response to the oil spill. Long-term monitoring will include further investigation into the impact of the oil spill on fish.

Toxicology tests have also been conducted on a sea snake that was collected in the vicinity of the oil spill. Results indicate that the likely cause of death was exposure to oil. The report on the analysis is available. The long-term environmental monitoring program will further examine the impacts of the oil spill on sea snakes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the impact to wildlife?

Have birds been affected by the oil spill?

A small number of birds have been found in the region affected by the oil spill. The birds have been identified as common noddies, brown boobies and sooty terns.

Who is caring for the birds after they are found?

Birds found in the region are being treated by a qualified wildlife expert on-site at Ashmore marine reserve. The process involves capturing the animal, stabilisation and providing onsite care; birds that require additional care are being transferred to a veterinary clinic.

The Australian Government is currently working with the West Australian Government to establish a joint wildlife response centre at Broome. A suitable site has been identified and is prepared should it be required.

What happens to the animals after rehabilitation?

It is intended that rehabilitated wildlife recovered from the ocean will be released back into the wild when they have fully recovered as determined by wildlife experts.

What other wildlife has been affected?

Two confirmed reports of oil affected sea snakes, collected in the vicinity of the oil spill have been received. Expert analysis of one of these snakes indicates that the likely cause of death was exposure to oil. Toxicology testing will be conducted on the second speciment.

No other confirmed reports of affected wildlife have been received despite extensive aerial and water-based patrols in the area. To date, no confirmed reports of oiled whales or other cetaceans have been received. There is no available evidence at this time to suggest that the migratory or breeding patterns of any wildlife have been affected but this will be monitored in the long term.

What is the impact to the environment?

What is the impact on the marine reserves?

At present no oil patches have been observed at Ashmore or Cartier marine reserves. Some minor sheen (less than 10 per cent coverage) has been observed near the reserves on some days, but appears to be evaporating as predicted.

The environmental monitoring program includes studies to identify any actual and potential impacts to the reserves in the long-term.

What is the impact on ocean foods (eg seagrass) on which fish, birds and animals feed?

There are no seagrasses known to be in the immediate vicinity of the oil spill. However, the Government, in conjunction with the company, is undertaking a number of steps to assess the impact of the oil spill. These assessments will provide a clear picture of the impact of the spill on the marine environment.

How can the public help?

Who should I contact if I find oiled wildlife?

The first action for people who observe oiled wildlife or habitat should be to make contact with the relevant state environment agency. Instructions will then be given over the phone to suit the specific situation.

If people in WA observe oiled wildlife in a coastal area they should immediately call WA's Oil Pollution hotline on 08 9480 9924.

If oil affected wildlife are observed in Commonwealth waters (eg fishermen) details can be reported to the federal environment department on report.wildlife@environment.gov.au

Information that is useful in responding includes:

Information updates

Montara Well Head Platform information and updates
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
www.amsa.gov.au