CNOOC reports minor oil leak in Bohai Bay field

July 12, 2011
Operations at Suizhong 36-1 oil field in China’s Bohai Bay were shut down temporarily following an equipment malfunction in a central control system, resulting in a minor oil leak, CNOOC Ltd. reported July 12.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 12
-- Operations at Suizhong 36-1 oil field in China’s Bohai Bay were shut down temporarily following an equipment malfunction in a central control system, resulting in a minor oil leak, CNOOC Ltd. reported July 12. Workers estimated 0.1-0.15 cu m of oil spilled.

“The oil sheen on the sea surface is being cleared effectively. The remaining scattered oil sheen is expected to be cleaned up today,” CNOOC said. The company reported the sheen covered about 1 sq km on the water’s surface.

Gas vented from a flare “brought out a very small amount of oil to the sea when the process depressurized,” CNOOC said. No other details were immediately available.

CNOOC China Ltd. Tianjin, which is in charge of SZ36-1 operations, activated emergency response procedures to cut off the leak and recover the oil, a CNOOC news release said.