BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd. (BP) plans to begin drilling for oil off the coastline of the Great Australian Bight in an Australian Marine Sanctuary. Their drill plan states the exact well locations have not been determined but are expected to range between 1,000 and 2,500 metres deep in an area located about 395 kilometres west of Port Lincoln and 340 kilometres south-west of Ceduna and will have environmental and economic impacts on marine reserves, whales, tourism and the fishing industry.

Since
the Deepwater
Horizon
accident
in the
Gulf
of
Mexico,
BP says, the
oil
and
gas
industry
has
developed
significant
capability
to
cap
well
blowouts,
leading
to
a
substantial
reduction
in
the
anticipated
duration
of
uncontained
hydrocarbon
flow.



BP states, "Studies
estimate
that
capping
equipment
can
be
mobilised
and
deployed
to
site
within
35
days
of
a
'loss
of
well
control'
event
occurring".

Bob Graham, Co-Chaiman, National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling states, "we found first that this was a totally avoidable accident. It was not an act of god, it was an act of men operating badly. Number two, that there was a culture within BP and much of the rest of the offshore oil and gas industry which put dollars above safety". (ABC Four Corners)

In its Oil Spill Modelling BP estimates that the earliest oil will reach shore in 21 days (near Esperence, Western Australia). That is 14 days of uncontrolled devistation to a coastal region that inhibits access from land and sea. With no oil spill response the 'Peak Oil Ashore' will occur 50 to 150 days after blowout. (Source: GAB Oil Spill Modelling)

Southern Right whales in the Bight. Photo: The Adelaide Advertiser

Further, deterministic
simulations
for
the
summer
season
showed
that
the
maximum
amount
of
oil
on
the
shoreline
peaked
at
810
tonnes
after
86
days,
with
227
km
of
coastline
impacted.

This
increased
to
a
maximum
of
240
km
of
coastline
after
100
days
due
to
the
remobilisation
and
re-deposition
of
oil
on
the
shoreline
due
to
wave
action
and
tidal cycling.

Wilderness Society South Australia director Peter Owen said the company was, "desperately trying to open up a new oil drilling province while the world turns its back on the flailing fossil fuel industry".

"Pushing to expand the fossil fuel industry is the height of irresponsibility. We must rapidly transition out of fossil fuels to have any chance of providing our children with a liveable climate". . .

Donate to Operation Jeedara and stop BP drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

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