New CNOOC oil leak found in China's Bohai Bay

[October 15, 2011]  BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese offshore oil and gas producer CNOOC Ltd. says it has suspended operation of an oil platform after finding a leak in one of its oil fields in the Bohai Bay.

It is the latest in a series of offshore spills in the Bohai Bay that have raised an outcry among fishermen and environmentalists.

CNOOC said in a statement on its website Saturday that an oil slick was discovered Friday near the Jinzhou 9-3 West oil field.

It says investigations show that a ship doing construction work damaged an oil pipeline at the bottom of the sea. CNOOC estimated that about 0.38 cubic meters (13.4 cubic feet) of oil was leaked.

It says the platform shutdown will reduce CNOOC's output by 1,600 barrels of oil a day.

[Associated Press]

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