Petrobras announces it has commenced the deployment of the Environmental Monitoring Plan in the Carioca Nordeste area, in the Santos Basin, where a pipeline ruptured last Jan. 31 on a vessel platform performing an Extended Well Test. This plan, designed to assess possible environmental impacts caused by the incident, includes procedures laid down by Ibama.
The oil collection work has already been completed. Five vessels remain positioned at the site ready to undertake the mechanical dispersion of any possible trace of oil found in the sea. This work is being supported by helicopter overflights.
Petrobras reiterates its emergency plans are tested in drills and approved by the relevant bodies. All contingency procedures adopted are in strict compliance with the emergency plans.
Finally, Petrobras reports it will only request approval to resume the Carioca Nordeste Extended Well Test after the investigation concerning the causes of the incident has been completed.
Petrobras emphasizes that the rupture took place in the pipeline connecting the well to the platform. No oil leaked at the well, which was closed automatically after the pipeline broke. As such, the incident did not take place in the pre-salt layer, which is nestled at a depth of over 2,000 meters under the seabed.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , February 03, 2012; Image: Repsol