PERTH—Technical problems will further delay the fourth attempt to plug a leaking oil well in the Timor Sea, the operators of the oil rig say.
Thai-based company PTTEP Australasia announced on Tuesday that a fourth attempt to plug the well at the Montara oilfield, off WA's northwest coast, would be delayed until later this week.
The well has been leaking into the Timor Sea, more than 200km off WA's Kimberley coast, since August 21.
Three attempts to plug the well with heavy mud have failed in recent weeks and the fourth attempt, originally planned for last Friday, has now been further delayed.
PTTEP chief financial officer Jose Martins said the latest delay was not through a lack of resources or commitment to stopping the leaking oil well.
"We have previously stated and the industry has acknowledged this is a complex operation," he said.
"We are attempting to steer accurately a relief well through deep, hard rock formations.
"This has taken longer than expected for technical reasons and not through a lack of resources or commitment."
On Sunday PTTEP said the fourth attempt would be delayed until Tuesday because a drilling assembly became stuck in the relief well hole, causing an unscheduled delay.
Mr Martins said the next attempt to intersect a 25cm diameter steel well casing to plug with heavy mud was now expected to occur later this week and might require a further attempt to intercept the target.
He said the company was committed to taking the safest and best approach to stop the oil leak and was reviewing all available options.
"Yesterday we conducted a further review of current options with industry colleagues as part of our ongoing assessment of the approaches used in this complex and difficult task and to review the next steps in drilling the relief well," Mr Martins said.
The consensus was that the approach taken by PTTEP was the most appropriate in the circumstances, he said.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett defended the company's actions ahead of the company announcing the delay on Tuesday.
"I'm advised ... that it does take three or four attempts on a matter that's as tricky and technically challenging as this to get the job done," he told reporters.
Conservation group Environs Kimberley says the spill has been played down by the government, hand in hand with the oil and gas industry.
"There is a real concern about the separation of powers between the oil and gas industry and government," Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard said.
"The Rudd government needs to show leadership and ensure that sensitive marine areas in the Kimberley are not peppered with oil and gas wells," he said.
"We're talking about one of the world's few remaining virtually untouched oceans.
"We have an international obligation to protect what remains by putting them in marine sanctuaries."
Wildlife groups said a survey of the marine area affected by the spill last week showed the area was teeming with wildlife, including sea snakes, dolphins and whales.
Mr Pritchard said the oil spill in the Timor Sea was reportedly impacting on the livelihoods and health of Indonesians, where fish deaths have been reported.
"We hope that Prime Minister Rudd makes commitments of compensation to the affected communities and offers to clean up any oil that is in Indonesian waters," he said.
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