PTTGC oil spill reaches Ban Phe Beach; tourist operators meet

[webfact]

PTTGC oil spill reaches Ban Phe Beach; tourist operators meet
By English News



RAYONG, July 30 -- Clean-up operations to remove the oil slick from the PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) offshore pipeline that washed up on Samet island in the eastern province of Rayong are now racing against time as the spill has floated to Ban Phe Beach.

PTTGC staff and personnel from the Marine Corps worked all night to clean the beaches at Phrao and Makham bays which were tainted with crude oil leaked from a PTTGC transmission pipe.

The oil slick has now washed into Ban Phe beach, 20 kilometres from Phrao Bay, and an additional 350 staff will reinforce the cleanup crew as soon as possible.

Rayong governor Vichit Chatphaisit, who earlier announced Phrao Bay as a disaster area, has instructed local authorities and villagers to closely monitor the situation.

The oil slick began Saturday morning when about 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 crude oil slipped from the booms due to the strong winds and waves then washed up to the shore at Samet island Sunday night.

National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department ordered temporarily closure of Phrao bay.

Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, chairman of the Rayong Tourist Association, said some foreign tourists cancelled planned trips to Samet island in the coming high season this October.

Damage to the tourism business could not be evaluated at the moment, he said, adding that the Rayong Tourist Association would meet today to seek measures to help ease impact on tourism. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-30

[webfact]

According to this Gistda image it doesn't look good and the oil spill seems to be moving to the mainland

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Source: http://www.gistda.or.th/gistda_n/index.php/component/content/article/1657

[webfact]

Gisda's satellite image shows oil slick could move towards mainland /Bangkok Post

[zappalot]

They still spread the story about 50.000 liters...

See the pics, the satellite images and do some maths, it is at least highly unlikely that only 50.000 liters spilled into the gulf of thailand...

[JimSiam]

Koh Samet is 13km2, the slick is at least the same size if not bigger and at least 2mm thick? that is a lot of litres.

[Equalizer]

I have done the maths, looking a the size of the slick there is approx 237,000 liters of oil there.

[webfact]

TAT to assist tourists affected by oil spill

BANGKOK, 30 July 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is coordinating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to provide urgent assistance to tourists staying on Samed Island, which has been affected by the oil spill.

Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Phusrisak admitted that he did not expect the oil spill to wash into areas as far as Ao Prao, Samed Island. Continued efforts are currently underway to remove the crude oil layer.

More than 50,000 liters of oil have leaked from the pipeline, owned by PTT Global Chemical Company Limited, off the coast of Rayong province. The TAT has been asked to offer travelers other attractions to tourists since the oil spill has driven them away from the beach.

According to Mr. Somsak, he will also act a mediator between the Island’s tourism sector and the oil company regarding the cost of damage, which he said amounted to more than 100 million baht. The impact is expected to last for a while.


-- NNT 2013-07-30

[sandrabbit]

the wind has become very strong at the moment and if it stays that way it will blow the slick to Ban Phe from the direction it's coming.

[sandrabbit]

TAT to assist tourists affected by oil spill

BANGKOK, 30 July 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is coordinating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to provide urgent assistance to tourists staying on Samed Island, which has been affected by the oil spill.

Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Phusrisak admitted that he did not expect the oil spill to wash into areas as far as Ao Prao, Samed Island. Continued efforts are currently underway to remove the crude oil layer.

More than 50,000 liters of oil have leaked from the pipeline, owned by PTT Global Chemical Company Limited, off the coast of Rayong province. The TAT has been asked to offer travelers other attractions to tourists since the oil spill has driven them away from the beach.

According to Mr. Somsak, he will also act a mediator between the Islands tourism sector and the oil company regarding the cost of damage, which he said amounted to more than 100 million baht. The impact is expected to last for a while.

-- NNT 2013-07-30

they could try offering free beer, it's quite expensive on Samet!.

[monty1412]

Koh Samet is 13km2, the slick is at least the same size if not bigger and at least 2mm thick? that is a lot of litres.

Using these numbers then a 15 square kilometres slick at 2mm thick would be some 30,000 cubic metres which is some 30,000,000 litres. Quiet a difference from the supposed 50,000 litres spilled claim

Hope those back of envelope numbers are aright

If however oil was only 1mm and only dispersed over 30% of the area in balck.. i.e oil doesnt cover the entire area then the magnitude of the spill would be 4500 cubic metres or 4,500,000 litres .

From size of spill it might appeaer that PTT are being economical with truth as to number of litres that actually escaped.

[SouthernMan3]

So very sad.

Hopefully a lesson will be learned here......

[monty1412]

Actually I retract that.. they did say " more than 50,000" litres so cant claim they werent being economical with truth

[technologybytes]

Actually the photos of the clean-up operation look quite impressive. Clearly it's being taken seriously and a lot of effort is going into the clean up operation.

[jaltsc]

The Jet Ski operators are going to love this. Just think how much they can charge for a cleaning fee when the Jet Ski is returned covered with oil.

[Katipo]

Actually the photos of the clean-up operation look quite impressive. Clearly it's being taken seriously and a lot of effort is going into the clean up operation.

I agree. Although I think a lot of this is because it's washed up on Koh Samed, a famous tourist destination, and has thus made internation headlines (reported on BBC etc).

I'm no expert, but clearly PPT was playing down the size and seriousness of this until it became clear that they hadn't contained it. I would expect no less from oil company scum the world over however.

[laban]

It is time PTT came clean with how much oil was spilled, and tell us what they are going to do about it besides getting the army to help clear up.

[jaltsc]

Ah Yes, Tourism.There is no mention about concern to the ecosystem or the long term effects to those who live in the area year-round. Thailand...Hub of SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

[SuwadeeS]

They always lie. That part of the job of a leader, to not say the truth.

50,000 liter, who is going to believe that bullshit.

How much does a pump do per minute? And how long does it take to be discovered?

I believe in a number of 50,000. Of course cubic meters.

Anyway, Thailand has no environmental consciousness.

Just look at the garbage everywhere. I am afraid, they are going to handle it

the same way as they do with the garbage.

[Minnehaha]

this is a total bummer.

[nami]

OMG, this is really bad :-((

I would like to see a fast, clear and independent investigation on this, and the responsible people on jail. Don't give a #@$ about the money, going to jail is the only way for them to learn and avoid doing the same thing again. Paying a compensation is way too easy for a big company like that, besides it will never recover what is lost in animal and vegetal life (not too mention the huge loses hotels and operators will suffer for, probably, years).

[toenail]

It is time PTT came clean with how much oil was spilled, and tell us what they are going to do about it besides getting the army to help clear up.

One cannot believe that stats that the oil companies will give out. Look at BP in the Gulf of Mexico... they lied about the amount leaking (in the beginning).

[monkeycountry]

"Damage to the tourism business could not be evaluated at the moment, he said, adding that the Rayong Tourist Association would meet today to seek measures to help ease impact on tourism."

Of course any damages paid to any tourism operators or fishermen should be based on their usual revenue/profits as reflected in their yearly tax returns. In case they do not file tax returns, or their tax returns show little or no revenue/profit, then obviously they should receive equally little or no damages payment from PTTGC. This should not be a problem for any hotels, restaurants or fishermen, as I am sure they all pay proper taxes, and in the unlikely event that they do cheat with their tax payments, and thereby cheat the public, then why should a government owned company such as PTTGC pay them any damages?

[Payboy]

A thousand boat propellers should blow the slick to Hawaii.

[jmccarty]

Pipelines do not just spring leaks! Root cause is likely an anchor dragged across the pipeline from a ship anchored near a restricted zone where the pipeline route is. The wind has been very strong these past few weeks offshore and if the pipeline is not buried, I'm not surprised. I am surprised the pipeline is not buried like they are around Samui?

There are radar surveillance systems designed to watch for just this type of incident. ConocoPhillips paid for such a system putting radar stations into Singapore, Batam and Bintan after installing the West Natuna Gas Pipeline that goes from the Natuna Sea to Jurong Island in Singapore. They also buried the pipeline in the shipping lane to 10m deep below the seabed.

10m is very deep and not the industry standard, but the PSA in Singapore paid RJ Brown to conduct an anchor drop and drag study about 30 years ago and concluded that with the type of seabed in Singapore, 10m depth, top of pipe was required.

Hope PTT has used the same diligence and there is some better reason than an anchor drag for this.

[ronrat]

There could be an upside. i was there last month and the amount of plastic on Ban Phe beach is a disgrace and hopefully they will clean that up too. Funny a few years ago i scraped food, eg prawn shells and fish bones into the water. The locals went mad. But quite happy to leave polystyrene in the water. An explanation that it was food for crabs, birds and small fish was not understood.

Edited July 30, 2013 by ronrat

[overherebc]

TAT to assist tourists affected by oil spill

BANGKOK, 30 July 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is coordinating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to provide urgent assistance to tourists staying on Samed Island, which has been affected by the oil spill.

Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Phusrisak admitted that he did not expect the oil spill to wash into areas as far as Ao Prao, Samed Island. Continued efforts are currently underway to remove the crude oil layer.

More than 50,000 liters of oil have leaked from the pipeline, owned by PTT Global Chemical Company Limited, off the coast of Rayong province. The TAT has been asked to offer travelers other attractions to tourists since the oil spill has driven them away from the beach.

According to Mr. Somsak, he will also act a mediator between the Islands tourism sector and the oil company regarding the cost of damage, which he said amounted to more than 100 million baht. The impact is expected to last for a while.

-- NNT 2013-07-30

they could try offering free beer, it's quite expensive on Samet!.

Doesn't old rice soak up oil quite well ? Must be some about somewhere they could use.

[zappalot]

Doesn't old rice soak up oil quite well ? Must be some about somewhere they could use.

Old Thai rice is soaked with chemicals to avoid mold (as it is stored for years) and to avoid rice bugs having fun. They would contaminate the sea if they use it to soak up the oil...

[Halion]

Actually the photos of the clean-up operation look quite impressive. Clearly it's being taken seriously and a lot of effort is going into the clean up operation.

Oh yes there is a lot of effort going into this clean up or at least boots on the ground to give this impression.

This scenario is just so bloody typical of industry in this country.

First and foremost the intiial information regarding the quantity was very underestimated, secondly, why is it the Tourism Ministry that is taking centre stage. Where are the honest factual and realistic comments from the Environment Ministry and also PTP.

Had they responded with ability, honesty and integrity this disaster may well have been prevented from coming ashore.

It is fairly obvious that they had insufficient equiptment ,and dispersants to contain the real release volume and the chances are that this was a given from the onset.

From my 30 years experience in the chemical sector in Thailand only lip service at best is applied to environmental concerns. Less han 30 % of budget allocations actualy find there way to the provision of equiptment required and in the most part the training is so bad that it is counter productive. Local industries consider EH&S issues of little consequence as they are deemed to have a negative impact on profit and productivity.

There is only one set of shoulders to which this blame should be hung on and that is PTT which is also a Government organisation . Comment from the Tourist Ministry are unwarrented and useless at best however they do indicate the mindset of these people.

The Goverment and media rhetoric is abysmal with daily contradiction, outright lies and misinformation.

In equatorial waters which are warmer the response times to control such oil slicks need to be significantly faster than in colder climate. The equiptment is out there ,the technology is out there, the application methodology is out there, however ,sadly missing in this issue as the events of the past few days adequately demonstrate.

Having thousands of boots on the beaches with shovels is the net effect of a failed alert and response system.

[webfact]

CAMPAIGN FOR SAMET ISLAND
Appeal for hair to soak up spill
The Nation

KOH SAMET: -- Concerned residents have pitched in to clear up the oil spill at Samet Island and are now campaigning for donations of hair to soak up the spill.

The call was spread over social networks including Facebook and Twitter for barbershops and beauty salons to donate the hair.

The hair would be stuffed into nylon stockings to form a "hair boom" and placed in areas of the spill to soak it up.

It is reported that each pound of hair is capable of absorbing as much as a gallon of oil. Wool, animal hair and fur coats could be used for the purpose.

The campaign also calls on people to visit the affected sites to help clean up the spill.


-- The Nation 2013-07-30

[samui34samui]

If the spill was only 50,000 litres and 2mm thick, it will cover approx 25,000 sq.m or 15 Rai something (about 250 metre long by 100 metre wide). Well the satellite picture looks a bit bigger than that.....