Suspected oil leak at Shell’s refinery at Pulau Bukom; containment measures taken to prevent spread

SINGAPORE: Shell has shut down an oil processing unit at Pulau Bukom to facilitate investigations into a suspected leak in the system, agencies said in a joint statement on Friday (Dec 27). 

The oil processing unit at the Shell Energy and Chemical Parks is used to produce refined oil products such as diesel. Water drawn from the sea is used as part of the process to cool the refined oil products in the unit.

“Shell estimated that a few tonnes of the refined oil products were leaked, together with the cooling water discharge,” said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).

The company has laid containment and absorbent booms and sprayed dispersants in the channel where the cooling water is being discharged. The in-built oil skimmer system in the channel has also been activated. 

“Containment and absorbent booms have been laid at the mouth of the channel, to prevent residual oil leaked from spreading into the sea. No oil patches are currently observed in the vicinity of Pulau Bukom,” said the statement. 

MPA and Shell have deployed boats to clean up light oil sheens observed off Pulau Bukom using both dispersants and absorbent booms.

The agencies said they are closely monitoring the situation and have deployed satellites and drones for surveillance. 

As a precaution, oil absorbent booms will be laid at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and at the beaches on Sentosa.

“Navigational traffic in the area is not affected. There is no impact to bunkering operations in the Port of Singapore,” they added. 

“Further updates will be provided if there are significant developments. NEA is investigating the incident with MPA and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if any wrongdoing or lapse is discovered.”