Aircraft sent to Australian oil rig leak.Byline: AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk network. In order for non-Apple networks to access data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must translate into the AFP language. See file sharing protocol. SYDNEY: Aircraft carrying tonnes of chemicals were Saturday sent to spray a massive oil and gas leak which forced the evacuation of an oil rig off Australia s northwest coast, officials said. The spill, about eight nautical miles (15 kilometres) long and 30 metres wide, began just before dawn Friday at the West Atlas drilling rig, 250 kilometres from the Australian mainland, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations. (AMSA AMSA American Medical Student Association AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority AMSA American Moving and Storage Association AMSA Australian Marine Sciences Association AMSA Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies AMSA American Meat Science Association ) said. All 69 workers on board the rig were evacuated to Darwin and the Bangkok-based company that operates it, PTTEP Australasia, was undertaking urgent repairs to the well head, AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said. "This leak has occurred in one of the remotest locations possible, making any operation difficult," Jiggins said. "It is too early to determine the full impact of this incident." A Hercules carrier plane on loan from Singapore loaded with about 50 tonnes of dispersant dis·per·sant n. Chemistry A liquid or gas added to a mixture to promote dispersion or to maintain dispersed particles in suspension. chemicals would spray the Timor Sea site Saturday, she said, adding that the oil appeared to be evaporating as fast as it flowed. "That s encouraging for us," she said. Two other aircraft were on standby for support, she added. PTTEP said about 40 barrels of oil had been discharged in the initial incident, and it was still attempting to bring the leak under control at the rig, which is owned by Norway s Seadrill. "The size of the spill is not known," it said in a statement. Marine authorities said the spill was unlikely to reach the Australian coast, with calm weather and sea conditions likely to take it away from the shore. Hong Kong-based shipping company Swire this month offered Australia 21 million US dollars in compensation over a massive chemical and oil spill during cylonic conditions off Australia s north-east in March. Swire s cargo liner Pacific Adventurer released about 200,000 litres (53,000 US gallons) of heavy fuel oil off the coast of Queensland state, blackening black·en v. black·ened, black·en·ing, black·ens v.tr. 1. To make black. 2. To sully or defame: a scandal that blackened the mayor's name. 3. scores of popular tourist beaches in one of the country s worst spills. Muscat Muscat, Maskat, or Masqat (all: mŭs`kăt, mŭs`kət), city (1993 pop. 533,774), capital of Oman, SE Arabia, on the Gulf of Oman. It is flanked by rugged mountains. Press and Publishing House SAOC SAOC Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization SAOC Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club (UK) SAOC Sector Air Operations Center SAOC South African Orchid Council SAOC Submariners Association Of Canada (Gloucester, ON, Canada) 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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