ConocoPhillips says it did not deceive authorities regarding oil spill clean-up
U.S.-based ConocoPhillips denied allegations that it tried to deceive authorities through false claims that it had cleaned up the oil spill off Chinaโs eastern coast. The oil spill started in June, and in early September, it caused the cessation of all production in the affected Penglai 19-3 oil field in Bohai Bay. This has resulted in an uproar from the state-run media, as well as environmentalists, who have called for harsher penalties. The Chinese branch of ConocoPhillips, in a joint venture with state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp., operates several wells in Penglai 19-3. Although China National Offshore Oil Corp. has a 51% majority stake in the venture, it has not been held accountable for the oil spill.
ConocoPhillips failed to meet oil spill clean-up deadline
ConocoPhillips assured the public that it is committed to complying with the law. A weekend news report broadcasted by the state-run China Central Television showed a Chinese employee of ConocoPhillips being interviewed by marine radio. The employee accused the company of deliberately deceiving the State Oceanic Administration when it reported that the oil spills had been contained and cleaned up. ConocoPhillips asked for a correction of the news report. But the State Oceanic Administration said that investigations revealed that ConocoPhillips did not comply with the August 31 deadline to completely clean up and contain the oil spill. The oil spills of June 4 and June 17 released some 700 barrels of oil into Bohai Bay, aside from 2,500 barrels of mineral oil-based drilling mud into the seabed. Suspension of operations in Penglai 19-3 would reduce output by as much as 40,000 barrels per day (bpd), in addition to the 22,000 bpd that had already been lost as a result of the shutdown of the two wells where the oil spill originated. (September 5, 2011)