Koh Samet oil-spill recovery will be tough: experts

[webfact]

DARK DAY OF SAMET
Oil-spill recovery will be tough: experts
Jutarat Tipnumpa
The Nation



KOH SAMET: -- Academics have predicted a grim scenario for ecological systems hit by the oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand, including those around Koh Samet's Ao Phrao beach.

"It's going to be difficult to rehabilitate the affected areas," Phaithoon Mokkongpai of Burapha University said yesterday.

About 50 tonnes of crude oil leaked from an offshore pipeline on Saturday, spilling into the sea off Rayong.

In a bid to break up the oil slick, some chemicals have been used.

Phaithoon said he believed the use of chemicals was not appropriate because the oil-affected areas were not in the deep-sea zone, and these waters did not flow easily to the open sea.

There was a risk that oil droplets formed through the use of the chemicals would sink onto coral and kill them, he said, adding that ecological systems would then suffer because young aquatic animals and plankton usually live around the corals.

Phaithoon predicted disruption |to the food chain and believed |the impact would become evident soon.

"Although micro-organisms naturally consume oil, they won't be able to handle [such a] huge amount of oil," he explained.

He said that apart from damage to ecological systems, the oil spill would hurt tourism, the economy and coastal fisheries too.

"This is a big incident," he said, adding that the spill would not have posed such a serious threat if it had happened out at sea.

"But when [oil] reaches the coastal zone, the impacts are serious."

Pichai Sonchaeng, a former dean of Burapha University's Marine Technology Faculty, said the oil spill's impact on natural resources was worrying to everyone.

He urged all parties to quickly determine the exact leakage point, the exact amount of leaked oil and the affected areas, and to develop a model to assess the impacts.

"Then we will have to plan how to rehabilitate the environment and come up with the quickest and best way to do it," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-31

[webfact]

RAYONG
Ao Phrao beach slowly getting its colour back
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Koh Samet, Rayong

RAYONG: -- Greenpeace says measures employed by PTTGC were acceptable, but pushes for immediate mitigation process.

Thousands of volunteers and officials have been battling for more than 48 hours to remove crude oil that has swamped Koh Samet's Ao Phrao beach - a mission that PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) says should be completed today.

The oil has been spreading in that area of the Gulf of Thailand after a PTTGC offshore platform sprung a leak on Saturday monring.

Sirasa Kantaratanakul, a Greenpeace campaigner who witnessed the clean-up operation at the beach yesterday, said the techniques used by PTTGC were acceptable but the firm needed to launch recovery plans as soon as possible in order to mitigate the damage.

PTTGC president Bowon Vongsinudom agreed, saying launching the mitigation plan immediately was necessary.

As of yesterday morning, about 10 tonnes of crude oil had been removed from the beach and some areas were relatively clean. Seawater in some spots had even changed from black to light brown, which was seen as a positive sign. However, the clean-up operation was disrupted at around noon yesterday due to heavy rain.

Ao Phrao beach, which is popular among divers thanks to the staghorn coral reefs, was hit by the leak at around 9pm on Sunday.

"This accident does not just affect PTTGC, but also the local community and the entire country. Hence, we've decided to join the cleaning-up mission and help our nation," PTTGC staff Surapol Chaiyahong said. The 50-year-old joined the clean-up operation from Sunday night.

Apart from using pumps, buckets and shovels to remove the oil, the volunteers also deployed five high-power sprays to wash the oil off the rocks yesterday.

PTTGC is expected to transfer the tanks containing debris from the beach on several barges to its oil-refinery. It will also hire a third-party agency to evaluate the damage done to the environment and marine ecosystem before drawing up a recovery plan.

Meanwhile, though Bowon wondered about the cause of the leak, he did not say if he would order an investigation into the incident.

After the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency issued a satellite image of what looked like the spill heading for the mainland at Rayong's Ban Pak Klong Klang area, Bowon said he launched an inspection of the area but found no crude oil.

"I don't know what that is," he said, adding that the spill was now limited to Ao Phrao and it had been contained so far.


-- The Nation 2013-07-31

[chooka]

So it won't be cleaned up in 3 days and back to it's old self ready for tourists in 7 days and other have said?

[Robby nz]

Elsewhere the latest satalite picture shows the main slick (bigger than the island) has bypassed the island and is heading for the mainland.

The oil in the bay is shown as a tiny portion of the main body of the slick.

Look out the mainland.

[webfact]

PTTGC ordered to pay for damages from oil slick
By English News

BANGKOK, July 31 – The Marine Department has filed a complaint with the Map Ta Phut police station against PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) for the oil spill from its offshore pipeline in the eastern province of Rayong, according to a senior official.

Sornsak Saensombat, department director general, said the police complaint is part of a normal legal procedure, but the department has not sought legal action against PTTCG, pending a survey of damage from the incident.

The Marine Department has contacted related government agencies including the Fisheries Department and the Natural Resources and Environment Department to assess damages in order to seek compensation from PTTGC.

If PTTGC fails to take responsibility for the damage, the Marine Department will take legal action against the state enterprise, he said.

PTTGC is a subsidiary of PTT Plc, Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas conglomerate.

He said the oil slick was contained at a single spot at Prao Bay, Ko Samet, where absorbent sheets were spread over the sea surface to prevent the slick from spreading wider.

The PTTGC workers and personnel from Marine Corps of the Royal Thai Navy worked through the night to clean up the oil spill, with only 20-25 per cent of the slick left of the beach.

Cleanup of the oil spill at Prao Bay should be completed today while the entire slick, including on sand and rocks, could be completely wiped out in a week, he said.

The collected oil residues from the slick will be moved to a processing facility in Map Ta Phut for treatment.

Mr Somsak added that the PTTGC must submit a rehabilitation plan within August and all parties concerned would be invited to discuss the measures to restore affected area of the environment.

Chemicals will not be used for the clean-up near beaches, he said, but local volunteers and government personnel will collect the slick and clean the beaches.

He acknowledged that there were delays in delivering clean-up equipment to the site, and that strong wind was another factor that hampered the cleanup mission.

The Rayong incident is rated at Level 2, middle level, which he said is manageable by the government.

Level 3 is beyond the government’s capability and international assistance is needed. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-31

[scorecard]

So why does the big headline say : PTTGC ordered to pay for damages from oil slick

The story doesn't connect at all.

[Katipo]

Elsewhere the latest satalite picture shows the main slick (bigger than the island) has bypassed the island and is heading for the mainland.

The oil in the bay is shown as a tiny portion of the main body of the slick.

Look out the mainland.

Do you have a link please?

[Soupdragon]

Elsewhere the latest satalite picture shows the main slick (bigger than the island) has bypassed the island and is heading for the mainland.

The oil in the bay is shown as a tiny portion of the main body of the slick.

Look out the mainland.

Do you have a link please?

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgistda%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D596&rurl=translate.google.co.th&sl=th&u=http://www.gistda.or.th/gistda_n/index.php/component/content/article/1666&usg=ALkJrhiAXW8BdROljKUXCO_64Qb-eD3JSw

[darren84310]

Interesting that today we have two articles:

1. Video threat against Thaksin, who is officially a criminal on the run. It states that the government sought help from America through the CIA.

2. An oil slick threatening the environment, which ultimately affects all Thais. NO MENTION OF SEEKING ANY HELP FROM OUTSIDE EXPERTS!!!

[catweazle]

When will it finally happen that one of those so-called Thai "experts" is bludgeoned to death in a public place with piles of computer printouts of their stupid forecasts and expert opinions?

Wasn't it "experts" too who proudly stated that all will be gone and back to normal in 7 days - something not even a three year old would believe?

My forecast is that a giant clusterf#$$ will hit mainland shortly and that the long term damage to reefs and beaches in the gulf (let alone tourism) will be far beyond imagination. Well done, PTT - thank you so much!

Edited July 31, 2013 by catweazle

[belg]

i guess they will have to grant a workpermit to farang micro-organisms

because clearly the THAI ones cannot handle the situation again

[thhMan]

Now they need our help... "Level 3 is beyond the government’s capability and international assistance is needed. (MCOT online news)"

BUT... you can only stay here 15 days and in those 15 days, we will empty your wallets, have our police force accept bribes when they pull only YOU up and so on.

And after its nice and clean, dont even consider Thailand as a home, because the best you can do is a little condo box... After all, a dog is still a dog

[Seashore]

It sounds like they made the matter worse with trying to clear it up with chemicals. So if the oil doesn't kill the gulf life then the chemicals will!

[catweazle]

I never understood this phenomena, and it not only is happening here in Thailand. When the $#it hits the fan big time, everything is downplayed first, wrong reassurances and statements are made to make the incident look like a small hickup, and then - when it is too late - one "official" or "expert" comes out of the closet to announce that this incident is far over their heads and they need help, instead of screaming help at the top of their lungs right at the start like any rescuer would do who pulls a drowned swimmer onto the beach. I mean, even if the incident at a later point really turns out as something the affected country or institutions can handle themselves, it is better to first ask for help and later relize it wasn't needed than blabbering proud statements of "we can handle this!" and later admit that we <deleted>$#ed up. I simply don't udnerstand this concept. Is it a kind of "shock inflicted denial" or what?

[freedom4life]

When these people talk about the spill within the article...makes you want to slap them upside their heads. The spill should of never reached the shore you #$%@! Of course there would be damage all around. Now, shut-up and clean-up!! Experts say...<deleted> you need them to say anything? If you were experts, you would of never let the oil reach shore. Mr.Expert

[Notstupid30]

Well what I heard this morning it’s anything between 50 / 70,000 litters of oil and also they stated it could take only a few days to clear the oil what’ out at sea right this minute but could take weeks or months to recover what’s on the beaches and rocks and so on …

Edited July 31, 2013 by Notstupid30

[Halion]

Just more banal bullsh*t and now the experts are saying what any one with an ounce of sense predicted at the onset..

This they say, by their own admission was categorized as a level 2 incident and still they failed to stop the oil washing up on the beaches. It is therefore obvious that they are incapable of handeling a level 2 incident.

It should be noted that there has been little information as to the real volume spilled and also to the reasons for this breach.

The oil came ashore owing to ineffectual and incompotent spill controls , procedures and a lack of equiptment and the necessary response training required to deal with such an offshore spill.

However, even in accepting the total incompotence shown bt PTT what is hard to stomach is the ever constant spin, misinformation and irrelevant bullsh*t that they pour out in a pathetic and blatantly obvious manner to misrepresent the true situation.

The truth is as in many envoronmental impact incidents here in Thailand they have again scored an own goal.

[ratcatcher]

It is reported that Deputy P.M.Plodprasop, presently on safari with Yingluck in Africa with half the cabinet, has ordered (begged for) assistance from foreigners, notably Singapore.

This satellite image hows the slick, as can be seen, the affected bay is qute small by comparison with the area covered by the oil. Watch for reports from mainland communities about incoming tides.

[how241]

It sounds like they made the matter worse with trying to clear it up with chemicals. So if the oil doesn't kill the gulf life then the chemicals will!

+1

[davey26]

Dear all,

Sorry if my post is in the incorrect forum.

But i really want to know what i can do to help clean up. Is there a volunteer group to join? Will authorities let us join? Can we get to the island?

So many questions, but i can't seem to get the correct answers. I have heard somewhere that a westerner must have a work permit to help with anything, even volunteer work. Is this correct? I do have a work permit, and my wife and i were keen to get a group of friends together to travel there this weekend to do our bit.

Is it pointless in trying to help?

Thank you for any replies

[wcoast]

Yes these dispersant's are only viable in specific circumstances. Their use should be confined to approval by an expert in spill control, after all the relevant facts have been analyzed. Likely someone with little expertise just gave an order to use the chemicals so it appeared at least something was being done. Same situation in Gulf of Mexico. Panic containment makes for good media, idiotic implementation. I fear white beaches is all the governments is concerned about for tourism, while under the waters toxins abound, out of sight and out of mind. Typical #greenwash.

[Thai at Heart]

It sounds like they made the matter worse with trying to clear it up with chemicals. So if the oil doesn't kill the gulf life then the chemicals will!

Twaddle

[DekDaeng]

When will it finally happen that one of those so-called Thai "experts" is bludgeoned to death in a public place with piles of computer printouts of their stupid forecasts and expert opinions?

Wasn't it "experts" too who proudly stated that all will be gone and back to normal in 7 days - something not even a three year old would believe?

Best was some years ago when weather bureau guy said Thailand didn't have to worry about ice caps melting - on account of how far away they are - ;-(

[Thai at Heart]

Yes these dispersant's are only viable in specific circumstances. Their use should be confined to approval by an expert in spill control, after all the relevant facts have been analyzed. Likely someone with little expertise just gave an order to use the chemicals so it appeared at least something was being done. Same situation in Gulf of Mexico. Panic containment makes for good media, idiotic implementation. I fear white beaches is all the governments is concerned about for tourism, while under the waters toxins abound, out of sight and out of mind. Typical #greenwash.

Eventually, this will get cleaned up by mother nature. To do this,you need surface area on the oil. Ever seen the sunlight washing up liquids adverts where they turn oil on the surface of water into billions of little droplets?

That's what corexit does, enabling the bacteria to get increased access to the oil and degrade it. 35cubic of corexit is literally a drop in a very big ocean.

[slipperylobster]

I never understood this phenomena, and it not only is happening here in Thailand. When the $#it hits the fan big time, everything is downplayed first, wrong reassurances and statements are made to make the incident look like a small hickup, and then - when it is too late - one "official" or "expert" comes out of the closet to announce that this incident is far over their heads and they need help, instead of screaming help at the top of their lungs right at the start like any rescuer would do who pulls a drowned swimmer onto the beach. I mean, even if the incident at a later point really turns out as something the affected country or institutions can handle themselves, it is better to first ask for help and later relize it wasn't needed than blabbering proud statements of "we can handle this!" and later admit that we <deleted>$#ed up. I simply don't udnerstand this concept. Is it a kind of "shock inflicted denial" or what?

shocking....

[GentlemanJim]

It is reported that Deputy P.M.Plodprasop, presently on safari with Yingluck in Africa with half the cabinet, has ordered (begged for) assistance from foreigners, notably Singapore.

This satellite image hows the slick, as can be seen, the affected bay is qute small by comparison with the area covered by the oil. Watch for reports from mainland communities about incoming tides.

satim.jpg

I have been amazed at how quickly a senior Minister or in fact the PM has rushed back to their country to take control of what is quickly becoming a national disaster. Bet all expenses in Africa's nice this time of year! 50 tons my arse!

Edited July 31, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[slipperylobster]

I never understood this phenomena, and it not only is happening here in Thailand. When the $#it hits the fan big time, everything is downplayed first, wrong reassurances and statements are made to make the incident look like a small hickup, and then - when it is too late - one "official" or "expert" comes out of the closet to announce that this incident is far over their heads and they need help, instead of screaming help at the top of their lungs right at the start like any rescuer would do who pulls a drowned swimmer onto the beach. I mean, even if the incident at a later point really turns out as something the affected country or institutions can handle themselves, it is better to first ask for help and later relize it wasn't needed than blabbering proud statements of "we can handle this!" and later admit that we <deleted>$#ed up. I simply don't udnerstand this concept. Is it a kind of "shock inflicted denial" or what?

Amazing insight

[DekDaeng]

Yes these dispersant's are only viable in specific circumstances. Their use should be confined to approval by an expert in spill control, after all the relevant facts have been analyzed. Likely someone with little expertise just gave an order to use the chemicals so it appeared at least something was being done. Same situation in Gulf of Mexico. Panic containment makes for good media, idiotic implementation. I fear white beaches is all the governments is concerned about for tourism, while under the waters toxins abound, out of sight and out of mind. Typical #greenwash.

Eventually, this will get cleaned up by mother nature. To do this,you need surface area on the oil. Ever seen the sunlight washing up liquids adverts where they turn oil on the surface of water into billions of little droplets?

That's what corexit does, enabling the bacteria to get increased access to the oil and degrade it. 35cubic of corexit is literally a drop in a very big ocean.

"In 2012, a study found that Corexit increases the toxicity of oil by 52 times.^[8][9][10]"

^{http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/17/corexit-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill}

^{http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2010/09/bp-ocean-dispersant-corexit}

[khunken]

It is reported that Deputy P.M.Plodprasop, presently on safari with Yingluck in Africa with half the cabinet, has ordered (begged for) assistance from foreigners, notably Singapore.

This satellite image hows the slick, as can be seen, the affected bay is qute small by comparison with the area covered by the oil. Watch for reports from mainland communities about incoming tides.

satim.jpg

I have been amazed at how quickly a senior Minister or in fact the PM has rushed back to their country to take control of what is quickly becoming a national disaster. Bet all expenses in Africa's nice this time of year! 50 tons my arse!

What! You can't expect our absent PM to return and risk getting oil on her Burberry boots.

[joboss]

Just more banal bullsh*t and now the experts are saying what any one with an ounce of sense predicted at the onset..

This they say, by their own admission was categorized as a level 2 incident and still they failed to stop the oil washing up on the beaches. It is therefore obvious that they are incapable of handeling a level 2 incident.

It should be noted that there has been little information as to the real volume spilled and also to the reasons for this breach.

The oil came ashore owing to ineffectual and incompotent spill controls , procedures and a lack of equiptment and the necessary response training required to deal with such an offshore spill.

However, even in accepting the total incompotence shown bt PTT what is hard to stomach is the ever constant spin, misinformation and irrelevant bullsh*t that they pour out in a pathetic and blatantly obvious manner to misrepresent the true situation.

The truth is as in many envoronmental impact incidents here in Thailand they have again scored an own goal.

I get the idea you want out. What parts do you need for your ship?