PTT oil slick spreads to Koh Samet beachfront

[mal60]

Oh dear. How horrible for all the marine life. Not to mention I am due to go there in 2 weeks time

In that case I wouldn't go, as the beaches are about the only nice thing about the place.

There are much nicer places in Thailand.

[OzMick]

Where are the smart- asses, who had nothing better to do, than kicking at Greenpeace?

Is this an ecological disaster, or what?

That depends on what you rate as a disaster.

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Oil spill on the beach on Koh Samet in Rayong this morning - RT @Angkut: คราบน้ำมันที่เกาะเสม็ด ระยอง เช้านี้ pic.twitter.com/3GxKJ5QHS5

[Larry001]

Another example of Thailand's incompetency

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 5,000 Litre of Crude Oil leak from PTT Global Chemical operation. Arial view Photo from @Thairath_News pic.twitter.com/u12GQq8YkV

[skorchio]

For all the TiT brigade, PTT's response to the spill in Aus in 2009 was actually applauded by the Aus regulator. I hope they apply themselves as diligently in this case .....

[Lite Beer]

Oil spill hits Thai tourist island

BANGKOK, July 29, 2013 (AFP) - Thai navy personnel battled Monday to clean up a beach on a popular tourist island after oil from a pipeline leak washed up in a national park.

Roughly 50,000 litres of crude oil gushed into the sea on Saturday about 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the coast of the eastern province of Rayong, operator PTT Global Chemical said.

The oil reached Ao Phrao beach on the island of Ko Samet where hundreds of navy personnel, national park officials, company workers and villagers raced to remove it.

"It covers about 300 metres (990 feet) of the beach. That's a lot," Soomet Saitong, chief of the Khao Laem Ya National Park which includes Samet island, told AFP.

Some visitors were cutting short their holidays on the island, which is a popular destination for weekend breaks for Bangkok residents.

"There are oil stains right in front of the beach. Customers are starting to check out," a worker at the Ao Phrao Resort told AFP.

"There's oil all over on the beach," said a member of the front desk staff at another nearby hotel.

"We just have to accept it. It's chaotic right now. Many people and officials are on the beach dealing with it."

The pipeline operator -- part of state-owned giant PTT -- had said in a statement Sunday that 10 ships were involved in an urgent clean-up and it was confident of containing the spill.

Greenpeace urged Thailand to end oil drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Thailand in light of what it described as a "massive leak".
"The Gulf of Thailand, the nation's food basket, has long been under threat from oil spills along oil transport routes, at points of discharge and

loading of oil carriers or from the several hundred oil drilling operations across the Gulf," said Greenpeace activist Ply Pirom.

The environmental group said there had been more than 200 oil spills in Thai waters during the past three decades.

"This is the biggest oil spill in the province," said Puchong Saritdeechaikul, director of the government's Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation Center in Rayong. "It's the first time it happened on Samet island."

Conservationists have voiced concern about the impact of both the oil and the chemicals used to disperse the spill.

"The main damage will be to corals and the fish food chain," said Srisuwan Janya, president of Thai environmental group The Stop Global Warming Association.

Another PTT subsidiary was involved in a huge oil spill off northwestern Australia in 2009 that was the country's worst ever offshore drilling accident.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-07-28

[Globeman]

How could we expect anything different? TIT and certainly the response to this oil spill was far from adequate and authorities not prepared. What a shame. MS.

Oil spills and inadequate responses to them are a uniquely Thai phenomenon? I recall the UK and the US having pretty MAJOR oil leak a couple of years back that was very badly handled and also blocked reporters from reporting on the damage... "TIB", "TIA" (This is Britain, This is America)...

It's fine to criticise the incompetence involved in the spill and the response (especially if you have any actual information beyond the initial news reports), but why is it that whenever anything bad happens the barstool brigade always have to vent their bitterness towards Thailand by hinting, implying or just saying outright: "Typically bloody Thai, eh? No better than monkeys - not like where I come from... everything is better where I come from... and that's why I live... ummm... in Thailand."

The attitude is sad and sickening.

[ABCer]

It is just about the time for 'specialists experts' to stop sitting on the beach pointing fingers at (WHAT???) (WHERE??) and (WHEN?)

instead of telling

- at what point in place, time and equipment of the origin of the leak;

- the size of the leak;

- measures taken to stop the leak;

- contingency plans in place for occurrence;

- equipment factually used for containment;

The usual 'under control' phrases are not convincing. The results are far too obvious. The leak and its consequences are not going away.

A Government Investigation Committee must be formed ASAP. Two-three more days and there will be an International Committee investigating the leak - Malaysia and Cambodia are very close.

Oil on high seas is hard to sweep under the carpet.

In Australia this would call for a Royal Commission Investigation. Not sure about Thailand. Most likely here the guilty will be investigating each other.

From original post on TV the size is estimated around 70 tons. High temperature of air and water, Monsoon rains and winds will spread the leak over 70 square km depending on sea condition.

From the picture published under ALL OUT IN FORCE here on TV the force is inadequate.

If(?) the source is the pipeline from oil rig, how did they manage not to detect and shut down the pipe sooner?

A very irresponsible case of TIT! A disaster waiting to happen will be written off as an accident. One problem though - accident is not foreseeable event. This one was waiting to happen.

One thing is certain - the fishing industry, the owners of beach properties and the tourist industry will not be compensated, but the petrol prices will cover the losses of PTT.

Edited July 29, 2013 by ABCer

[Globeman]

Another example of Thailand's incompetency

...which in no way resembles the incompetence of the Brits and the Americans during the massive leak near Florida in 2010... Maybe that oil platform was being run by Thais? There can be no other explanation.

Or how about: "Another example of the incompetence of the greedy oil industry" ?

[jaidam]

Refunding the national park entrance fee would be a nice gesture for the tourists hightailing it out of the disaster zone.

[bsci]

Just got back from Ao Phrao an hour ago, I thought this was a fuss over nothing when I went to a few of the beaches on Samet this morning, absolutely no trace of any oil, went to Saikeaw (the most popular beach), went swimming at the beautiful Ao Luk Yon, and all up the North coast and saw nothing untoward.

The whole of Ao Phrao is covered in black sludge. There is a large clear up operation under way, however in my opinion it seems like lots of manpower and not much in the way of proper equipment (on the beach at least).In the distance there is a clear line where the oil stops, so I would imagine that it is fairly well contained in Ao Phrao and my guess is that it will not spread to any other beaches.

[luurts]

Im on samed now a place I called home for 5 years and I am currently sat on the north shore where it stinks of oil. The resorts on phrao beach have had to close and the place is crawling with navy, police, army,national park you name it they are there for pictures.

But I havent seen a drop of oil hit a northern beach yet and I cant get down to phrao beach as its closed off.

Yesterday there were planes dropping some form of chemical onto the oil to neutralize it I believe. Today and yesterday there have been at least 3 massive boats sucking the oil slick up around the clock from what I saw. There has been a reaction its looked well coordinated to member of the public like myself.

I just wish all man and his dog in a uniform didnt come down looking to get a picture and a bit of the action. Pick up a bucket boys or a spade and do something productive you massive wastes of space. Rant over.

I will update if there is anything more.

[DocN]

Where are the smart- asses, who had nothing better to do, than kicking at Greenpeace?

Is this an ecological disaster, or what?

That depends on what you rate as a disaster.

Cute! Really cute!

[xtof2]

Although some sheen and particles may hit beaches, this incident could have been far worse, but the companies in that area train together for this and were prepared. Anyone with industry experience knows this spill was managed swiftly and thoroughly.

I love the guys from the oil industry.

First, everything is under control.

Then, when oil spills, everything is still under control.

Usually, they are the ones using avatar with a nice mountain landscape in the back.

Just to remember how it was before they mess it up.

Says the guy on the way to the gas pump. Get a life.

And so, what's your point?

Just saying they always pretend everything is under control.

You can understand the meaning ?

[Xonax]

RT@RichardBarrow: Oil spill on the beach on Koh Samet in Rayong this morning - RT @Angkut: คราบน้ำมันที่เกาะเสม็ด ระยอง เช้านี้ pic.twitter.com/3GxKJ5QHS5

Why can´t I spot the clean-up crew in the photo???

[jamhar]

Just came across the channel from the mainland. The channel smells bad and you can see the thin sheen of crude. Not the heavy thick stuff. I could see that they had booms set up at the mouth of the channel close to the island to stop most of the heavy stuff. but it still looks bad and smells bad.

But the winds are from the southeast driving the surface of the waters north by northwest. The waters cleared up starting Ao Phia. I can confirm clean waters from VongDuen to Ao Phia. Its probably clear southward, but i cannot confirm past VongDuen. If you're coming to the island, i suggest you call first to check on the conditions.

I'll update later today.

Edited July 29, 2013 by jamhar

[ginjag]

Just came across the channel from the mainland. The channel smells bad and you can see the thin sheen of crude. Not the heavy thick stuff. I could see that they had booms set up at the mouth of the channel close to the island to stop most of the heavy stuff. but it still looks bad and smells bad.

But the winds are from the southeast driving the surface of the waters north by northwest. The waters cleared up starting Ao Phia. I can confirm clean waters from VongDuen to Ao Phia. Its probably clear southward, but i cannot confirm past VongDuen. If you're coming to the island, i suggest you call first to check on the conditions.

I'll update later today.

Good man, this is what the forum is all about, good help. bash when needed.

[ratcatcher]

RT@RichardBarrow: Oil spill on the beach on Koh Samet in Rayong this morning - RT @Angkut: คราบน้ำมันที่เกาะเสม็ด ระยอง เช้านี้ pic.twitter.com/3GxKJ5QHS5

Why can´t I spot the clean-up crew in the photo???

It's Koh Samet, they're all tired and have been working hard and have stopped while half a dozen ladies give them an oil massage.

That other paper was earlier telling us there's no chance of oil on the beach. OK, that was from an intelligent government spokesperson, (ox + moron) so I guess it's true.

[mallorca284673]

pictures of oil on Ao Prao & koh Samets west coast

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Koh-Samed/122782577775097?v=wall

horrible

[ginjag]

How could we expect anything different? TIT and certainly the response to this oil spill was far from adequate and authorities not prepared. What a shame. MS.

Oil spills and inadequate responses to them are a uniquely Thai phenomenon? I recall the UK and the US having pretty MAJOR oil leak a couple of years back that was very badly handled and also blocked reporters from reporting on the damage... "TIB", "TIA" (This is Britain, This is America)...

It's fine to criticise the incompetence involved in the spill and the response (especially if you have any actual information beyond the initial news reports), but why is it that whenever anything bad happens the barstool brigade always have to vent their bitterness towards Thailand by hinting, implying or just saying outright: "Typically bloody Thai, eh? No better than monkeys - not like where I come from... everything is better where I come from... and that's why I live... ummm... in Thailand."

The attitude is sad and sickening.

Getting down to the real issues here, it is the reporting of persons connected to the industry who give out stupid and false impressions of the situation, this is mega bad and to play it down is wrong -totally.

I would not be one who says -this happens everywhere but in fact it does- the operation to minimize the disaster has to have question marks. But not being there I cannot say that persons are not doing their best--I would think they are-in Shi##y conditions.

My take on this is as I said the DENIAL of the scale of it--the photo's do not lie, and to say and point to specks-in your silk shirt--joke. this is what gets up posters noses, hence the outrage.

Give the facts-people and holiday makers then are aware. You cannot save face when it's staring at you.

[pattjock]

RT@Tulip_Oum: 5,000 Litre of Crude Oil leak from PTT Global Chemical operation. Arial view Photo from @Thairath_News pic.twitter.com/u12GQq8YkV

The oil spill is about the same area as Koh Samet (13sqkm). To cover such an area with only one millimeter of crude oil would take 13 million liters (if I have done my numbers right). I'm not sure how thick this oil spill is but if it is crude oil and only a day old it's probably fair to say at least one millimeter. Looking at the pictures from the beach on koh Samet it looks much thicker.

So the 50,000 liters reported sounds much to small, compaired with 13,000,000 liters required to just cover the oil slick by 1 millimeter.

[PhilipCook]

xtof2, allow me to correct you. One, my face is my own not an avatar. Two, the mountain behind me in my photo is found in Glacier National Park nearby St. Marys (Montana). Three, I'm not in the oil n gas biz here(automotive actually) but I know people in it here and by all accounts this spill has been handled professionally with shared resources here and assistance from Singapore. Four, if you took the time to read my posts on other topics you would know I shoot straight and its no different with this unfortunate accident. I suggest you continue to follow the news to see whether my initial comment was in line with the facts before making assumptions, plenty of hard working folks here in oil n gas that do their best to avoid these accidents and are prepared when they occur.

[ginjag]

xtof2, allow me to correct you. One, my face is my own not an avatar. Two, the mountain behind me in my photo is found in Glacier National Park nearby St. Marys (Montana). Three, I'm not in the oil n gas biz here(automotive actually) but I know people in it here and by all accounts this spill has been handled professionally with shared resources here and assistance from Singapore. Four, if you took the time to read my posts on other topics you would know I shoot straight and its no different with this unfortunate accident. I suggest you continue to follow the news to see whether my initial comment was in line with the facts before making assumptions, plenty of hard working folks here in oil n gas that do their best to avoid these accidents and are prepared when they occur.

Your comments seem honest enough, BUT you justify the hard work and effort to try to contain this spill. What knowledge and experts there are out there the fact remains persons were avoiding the fact of how much and where it has hit land. photo's do not lie---whatever hard work is done -Good, denial to the scale is dishonest, however you try to explain the spill. It's easy to post like me, but it's far easier for a spokesperson to come clean and say ---a disaster has occurred on Samet.

[sandrabbit]

more pics here

http://pantip.com/topic/30775778

the oil missed Mae Rhumpung beach, went straight passed and hit Samet. there's a few tugs out there seemed to have some sort of boom attached to them.

[Captain_Bob]

[GirlDrinkDrunk]

Any posters on Samet with pictures ??? what can't speak can't lie.

https://twitter.com/Tiwa

[sandrabbit]

on channel 7 news now

[sandrabbit]

apologies for double post. on the Thai news they're saying they can't control it and it will hit Ban Phe then Suan Son beach, lets hope it stops there as there are some beautiful beaches east of there.

Edited July 29, 2013 by sandrabbit

[webfact]

UPDATE:
PTTGC rushes to clean up oil slick at Samet island
By English News



BANGKOK, July 29 - PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) has rushed to clean up the oil slick that washed up on Samet island in the eastern province of Rayong, tainting the beach at Phrao Bay with crude oil leak from a PTTGC transmission pipe.

Porntep Butniphant, Executive Vice President for Refinery and Shared Facilities, said the company mobilised workers and asked for help from the army to send 400 soldiers to help urgently clean up the beach at Phrao Bay after the crude oil slick covered about one kilometre of beach.

It is expected the cleanup operation would be finished today, he said.

Mr Porntep said initial investigation found that the oil slick slipped from the bottom of the booms that used for containing the oil spill so that the spill was washed up into the shore last night.

He said some 5,000 litres of crude oil floated into shore even though the company workers used two tiers of booms to contain the slick.

The PTTGC executive said company staff used the booms to contain crude oil at the mouth of Phrao Bay to limit the affected area and used skimmers to transfer the oil into holding tanks.

As for the oil slick at the beach, he said, workmen used shovels to remove oil soaked sand.

Mr Porntep said PTTGC would eventually rehabilitate the beach to prevent any damage to the eco-system.

Sand and sea water samples will be collected for further examination.

The oil slick developed Saturday morning when approximately 50 tonnes (50,000 litres) of crude oil leaked from a pipeline, spilling into the sea off Rayong, some 20 kilometres southeast of the Map Ta Phut industrial estate.

The clean up operation at the leak point is already complete and PTTGC has assured the public that there would be no further damage to the environment. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-29