Sydney - A Thai oil exploration company said Sunday its leaking Timor Sea oil well had caught fire. The West Atlas drilling platform operated by PTTEP Australasia in the Montara field 690 kilometres west of Darwin has been leaking around 400 barrels of oil and gas a day since August 21.
"All personnel on the West Triton and on nearby work vessels are reported to be safe," the company said in a statement. "Non-essential personnel are being evacuated."
PTTEP has had four shots at drilling 2.6 kilometres into the seabed to try and intersect the leaking well and plug it with drilling mud.
Three earlier attempts had failed but there was progress early Sunday when the drill hit its mark and heavy mud was pumped in to seal the well off.
But only hours later, PTTEP announced a fire had started and that the West Atlas rig and the Montara well-head platform were burning.
It was not known whether the well was capped, or if the fire had forced a halt to the operation before it was plugged.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said every effort was being made to try to end the 10-week drama at the Montara field.
"Some of the world's leading experts are working to fix the leaking well and respond to this latest problem," Ferguson said in a statement.
"I am seeking regular advice on this from PTTEP, my department, Geoscience Australia and NOPSA (National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority) as well as some of the best minds and most experienced hands in the industry."
Conservation organization WWF has reported that the slick could cover up to 15,000 square kilometres. Due to a 40-kilometre exclusion zone, WWF can only estimate of the scale of the pollution.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has been flying C-130 Hercules aircraft from Darwin each day to drop dispersant over the slick. The authority said it had 300 staff working on the cleanup.
