More crude has leaked at an oilfield in the Bohai Sea in northeastern China where a major spill occurred last year. The release source was soon secured, according to ConocoPhillips China, the operator of the well in the oilfield.

In the latest incident, ConocoPhillips China said 0.6 cubic meters of crude oil were spilled on June 3 at the Penglai 19-3 field.

ConocoPhillips China has 49 percent interests of this oilfield and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) owns 51 percent. CNOOC released a statement on June 4 that said it received a report from rig operator ConocoPhillips about a problem.

On June 5, ConocoPhillips China said on its website that the spill was caused by a hose malfunction. It also said it was investigating the reason for the hose failure

ConocoPhillips also told CNOOC that it cleaned up the oil slick immediately after it was discovered. An inspection by CNOOC showed that as of 3 p.m. on June 4, no oil was seen on the water, CNOOC said. CNOOC said it would coordinate with ConocoPhillips to clean up any more oil that might appear.

In July 2011, the central government ordered the two companies to halt production at two platforms in the Penglai 19-3 oilfield due to an oil spill.

ConocoPhillips China said 700 barrels of crude leaked into the Bohai Sea, and 2,500 barrels of mineral oil and oil-based slurry sank to sea floor between early June and late August in 2011.

The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said the spills at two rigs polluted more than 5,500 square kilometers, affecting roughly 7 percent of the Bohai Sea.

The two companies submitted a new plan for operating the oil rig and an environmental assessment report to the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, but so far no approval for resuming production on the two platforms has been granted.

The SOA demanded that ConocoPhillips apologize for the spills for the last year, compensate for damage and warned the company that it planned to sue. Farmers and fisherman in Hebei Province hired lawyers as they sought compensation for spill-related losses, including damage to scallop beds.

In April, CNOOC and the ConocoPhillips China agreed to pay 1.68 billion yuan in compensation.

(Caixin Online)