PTTEP Australasia will today attempt to kill a raging fire at its leaking West Atlas oil rig off the north west coast of Australia, by pumping heavy mud into the well.
PTTEP Australasia will today attempt to kill a raging fire at its leaking West Atlas oil rig off the north west coast of Australia, by pumping heavy mud into the well.
The fire, which started on Sunday, continued to burn overnight as an attempt to block the leaking well was delayed yesterday when PTTEP realised it did not have enough mud of the right consistency to plug the well.
PTTEP has previously said it needed 4,000 barrels of heavy mud to pour down the relief well, which is expected to stop the fire and plug the leak which has been spewing oil into the Timor Sea since August 21.
PTTEP chief financial officer Jose Martins told reporters yesterday that while he could not be certain, the fire was likely to have been started by the process of pumping the mud into the well.
Mr Martins had added that further attempts to plug the well may be necessary and could be attempted again within a day.
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