By: Tania Dianasari) *
Oil spills and gas bubbles spread on the coastline of the north sea of Java in mid-July 2019. It is known, the spill occurred due to an incident in the oil and gas block owned by a subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero). Until now, the temporary indication of the incident was due to anomalous pressure during the drill, resulting in the emergence of gas bubbles and followed by oil spills.
PT (Persero) Pertamina continues to work intensely in overcoming gas leaks that cause air bubbles in the YYA-1 Block Offshore North West Java (ONJW), including preventing environmental damage by deploying 27 units of ships and an oil spill catcher device in the The waters of the North Coast of Java, Karawang, West Java.
The handling of gas leaks in the well operated by Pertamina Hulu Energi ONJW was carried out by involving credible, competent parties and having good experience in overcoming the same problem.
One of the impacts of the gas leak is the occurrence of oil spills around the drilling location.
In handling oil spills, Pertamina is assisted by Indonesian Oil Spill Combat Team (OSCT) who are experts and specialists in handling it. In addition, also involved Boot & Coots, a company from the United States who has experience in resolving events in Gulf Mexico.
The effort certainly shows that Pertamina is committed to being serious in overcoming the events at the offshore oil and gas wells both in operational and environmental aspects.
Technical handling to overcome this problem has also been carried out, namely by over reacting to kill off the source of the oil and gas spills, namely by compressing the YYA-1 well.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Sub-Directorate for Disaster Management and Underwater Work of the Directorate of Sea and Coast Guard Units (KPLP) of the Directorate General of Hubla of the Ministry of Transportation, Een Nuraini Saidah said that they had received reports of oil spills in the PHE ONWJ working area.
Een also revealed that his party had received a report from Pertamina that in the handling of oil spills at PHE ONJW Beach YY Lapas, the consultant involved the Indonesian Oil Spill Combat Team (OSCT) for an oil spill handling strategy to be effective, because handling must be fast and timely. the shortest – in short.
PHE ONJW has also deployed 45 ships to cope with and stop oil spills off the Karawang Coast. This number increased from the previous number of 29 ships.
PHE Vice President Relations Ifki Sukarya explained, the mobilization of Rig Jack Up Suhana around the relief well location was carried out in conjunction with the geohazard and geotechnical survey process.
Pertamina Hulu Energi workers along with members of the international expert team in the field of well control began drilling to stop gas bubbles around the YY platform since Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 14.00 WIB.
PHE ONJW workers have tried their best to overcome these abnormal conditions in accordance with operating procedures. Until July 14, 2019 the evacuation process was carried out.
Ifki also explained that his party had installed a 4,300 meter static oil boom in the first layer, and 400 meters static oil boom in the second layer, to handle oil spills.
Then in the third layer, placed four oil suction units (skimmers) to lift oil in the waters.
To prevent the risk of fire, IMT dedicates two anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) as rescue and emergency response vessels.
Meanwhile the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti asked Pertamina to clean up the rest of the oil spill to the coast. Susi also asked Pertamina to check on oil spills carried up to uninhabited islands.
Minister Susi also revealed that he had just visited the sea which was affected by oil spills at the beginning of August. He appreciated Pertamina for handling oil spills.
He also said that the Indonesian sea had the risk of an accident. Including the events at ONJW, Susi also said that the accident was an unplanned event.
) * The writer is an environmental observer