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Blaze Erupts on Aussie Oil Rig

Leak spewing 400 barrels of oil daily

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 1:44 AM CST

(Newser) – A massive blaze has erupted from an oil rig in the Timor Sea off northwest Australia. The fire was sparked as workers battled to plug an undersea leak that has spewed 400 barrels of oil a day for the past 10 weeks. No one was injured in the fire and all workers were being evacuated. Officials of PTTEP Australasia, which owns the operation, said the only way to stop the fire is to plug the leak.

Experts are working to solve the problem, said an Australian government official. But opposition politicians have blasted the government for failing to take quick action to mitigate the environmental disaster, reports the BBC.

The West Atlas oil rig burns some about 150 miles off Australia's northwest coast today. The fire started when workers made another attempt to plug an undersea leak.
The West Atlas oil rig burns some about 150 miles off Australia's northwest coast today. The fire started when workers made another attempt to plug an undersea leak.   (AP Photo/PTTEP Australasia)
The West Atlas oil rig burns some about 150 miles off Australia's northwest coast today. The fire started when workers made another attempt to plug an undersea leak.
The West Atlas oil rig burns some about 150 miles off Australia's northwest coast today. The fire started when workers made another attempt to plug an undersea leak.   (AP Photo/PTTEP Australasia)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
NxBigmouthery
Nov 2, 2009 12:31 PM CST
The whole oil thing has been a bloody mess from start to...well, I was gonna say finish, but it just drags on and on. It's not bad enough we nick Timor's oil, we have to go and spill it everywhere.
riffran
Nov 2, 2009 12:26 PM CST
put another 10,000,000 shrimp on the barby......damn thats a lot of oil
riffran
Nov 2, 2009 3:31 AM CST
didn't a politician over here quip something about a disaster being a shame to waste....inferring the very same thing.....dang..now I got to go look it up

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