A crude oil spill was reported in the early hours of June 6 near the SBM-2 (Single Buoy Mooring) terminal off the coast of Sriracha in Chonburi Province, prompting an immediate emergency response. The spill, which originated from the Phoenix Jamnagar, a Singapore-flagged oil tanker, was traced to a pipeline leak during oil transfer operations at sea.
The incident began around 12:54 a.m., with crude oil leaking for approximately 30 minutes. The slick, described as thin and black-brown in color, covered an area of around 10 square meters and drifted southward. The total volume of leaked crude oil is estimated at 10 cubic meters, or 10,000 liters.
The spill was officially reported to the Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center (ThaiMECC) by Thai Oil Public Company Limited, which operates the terminal. Following the report, the company implemented its emergency response protocols, including the deployment of three containment booms and the application of oil dispersant chemicals to limit the spread.
Emergency Measures and Initial Containment
In a public statement issued at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Thai Oil confirmed that the spill occurred due to unforeseen severe weather conditions. High waves and strong winds were cited as contributing factors that caused the oil to escape containment during the operation.
The company immediately suspended the oil transfer, as per standard safety procedures. Thai Oil highlighted that the Breakaway Coupling mechanism at SBM-2, designed to prevent structural damage during emergencies, operated successfully. However, a small amount of oil was released during the valve shutdown phase, which the company said was anticipated within its safety system’s design parameters.
Notably, containment booms had already been pre-positioned before the oil transfer began. Despite this, the choppy sea conditions allowed some oil to breach the boom barriers, leading to the visible slick on the surface. No injuries were reported in connection with the crude oil spill, and Thai Oil confirmed that SBM-2 remains undamaged, with no further leakage occurring after the incident.
Ongoing Cleanup and Environmental Safeguards
Thai Oil has since intensified cleanup operations, guided by the refinery’s emergency action plan, and is working closely with government and private sector agencies to mitigate any potential environmental impact. The company reassured the public that it is committed to full transparency and will issue regular updates as new developments arise.
In addition to dispersants and booms, the response teams are monitoring drift patterns and deploying further safeguards to prevent the slick from spreading into ecologically sensitive areas. While the crude oil spill was relatively small in scale, authorities are taking no chances, given the proximity to coastal waters and fishing zones.
Thai Oil concluded its statement by affirming its commitment to environmental responsibility, safety, and collaboration with all relevant authorities to ensure a swift and effective response to the incident.
Explore More News In Our Oil Gas Energy Magazine
