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UPDATED: September 2, 2011
Maritime Authority Checks Plugging of Oil Leaks in Bohai Bay
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China's maritime authority began a site inspection Thursday to verify whether ConocoPhillips China (COPC) had stopped oil from seeping from its drilling platforms located in north China's Bohai Bay.

COPC, a subsidiary of U.S. oil giant ConocoPhillips, said on Wednesday that it had sealed the leaks before the August 31 deadline set by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

The company said it had submitted a report to the SOA, showing that it had met the SOA's requirements to seal the sources of the spill and eliminate the risk of further leaks.

Lin Fangzhong, an official with the inspection team sent to the site, said they were using satellites, aircraft, sea vessels and even underwater robots to conduct a thorough examination of the company's plugging measures.

"We are using robots which can acquire underwater images to verify the seal as well as aircraft and sea vessels to take water samples on the surface," Lin said.

Even if the examination's results show no oil on the surface, it would not prove that pollution is on the decline as already-leaked pollution will have a more negative impact on marine sediments and oceanic ecosystems, according to Zhou Qing, deputy chief engineer of the SOA's northern monitoring center.

"The Iraq War brought oil pollution to waters in the Persian Gulf that has lasted for more than 20 years," Zhou said. "The center will continue to monitor the ecosystem in Bohai Bay."

The SOA confirmed with Xinhua late Wednesday that it had received COPC's report, but said the administration still needs to conduct a site inspection and examine expert evaluations to verify the company's conclusions.

On Thursday morning, strong winds and 5- to 6-meter waves at the spill site at the Penglai 19-3 oil field forced clean-up boats as well as the vessels of China's maritime authorities supervising the clean-up work to return to port.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2011)



 
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