Administration says minor oil seepages persist in Bohai area

BEIJING - Oil leaks at China's largest offshore oilfield in Bohai Bay, operated by US energy giant ConocoPhillips Co, may be continuing as the company has failed to take effective remedial measures, according to the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), the country's ocean watchdog.

While an on-site investigation of the Penglai 19-3 oilfield found no oil slicks near the company's B and C platforms on Friday, agencies under the SOA found minor seepages were still occurring 20-30 times a minute, leaking about 1-liter of oil in 24 hours at Platform C, where an open-flame was burning on the platform.

Operating staff at ConocoPhillips claimed the flame was caused by the burning of natural gas to generate electricity for the platform and Lu Aimin, manager of Platform B, told the Xinhua News Agency the seepages at Platform C were caused by an effort to clean up oil on the seabed.