Petroleum Operator Successfully Prosecuted Over Montara Platform Blowout

Thailand based petroleum operator PTTEP Australasia has been fined $510,000 (Australian dollars) in relation to the Montara wellhead platform blowout on 21 August 2009. The blowout, which occurred in the Timor Sea off the northern cost of Western Australia, resulted in an oil spill spanning 90,000 square kilometres and lasting 74 days. PTTEP Australasia pled guilty to the charges against it in the Northern Territory Magistrate's Court in Darwin, which consisted of three occupational health and safety violations and one non-occupational health and safety charge. Whilst there were no fatalities or casualties resulting from the incident, the risk of such an occurrence arising as a result of inadequate safety procedures is targeted by Australian health and safety laws.