Shocking scale of Poole Harbour oil spill is revealed in drone shots of Dorset coast

On Mar 27, 2023

Shocking scale of oil spill is revealed in drone shots of Dorset coast after more than 1,000 gallons burst from pipeline into sea making it unsafe for swimmers – as vast clean-up operation begins

Large pipeline leak into the water prompts major incident to be declared
200 barrels of ‘reservoir fluid’ spilled into busy waterway in Dorset
UK Health Security Agency has warned the public not to swim in the area
Anyone who has come into contact with the spill should wash immediately

Published: 08:05, 27 March 2023 | Updated: 14:07, 27 March 2023

A huge clean-up operation continued today after a large oil pipeline leak prompted a major incident at Poole Harbour, with swimmers warned to stay out of the water.

About 200 barrels of ‘reservoir fluid’ – which can contain crude oil – spilled into the internationally important body of water in Dorset from an underwater pipeline.

Local wildflife experts called on Anglo-French oil and gas company Perenco to ‘take action to clean this up’ and called for a ‘a proper investigation’ to avoid a repeat.

About 15 per cent of the 31,000 litres (7,000 gallons) of fluid is believed to be oil, meaning that almost 5,000 litres (1,000 gallons) of it may have polluted the harbour.

Workers have placed a boom across the water at Ower Bay in Poole Harbour, Dorset, today

Thick tar washed up on the beach this morning in Poole following the incident at the harbour

Aerial photographs revealed the scale-up of the clean-up this morning with a team of workers involved, while one picture showed tar washed up on the beach.

The area – close to the millionaires’ row of Sandbanks – is the world’s second largest natural harbour, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.

The UK Health Security Agency warned members of the public that they ‘should not swim in Poole Harbour or the surrounding area until further notice’. The council defined the surrounding area as ‘water and beaches within Poole Harbour’.

Officials said anyone who has come into contact with the spill should immediately wash with soap and water – and if eyes were in contact, rise them with water.

Conservative MP for Poole Sir Robert Syms said he and South Dorset Tory Richard Drax have asked the Government to take an urgent question in the Commons today.

A general view of the Wytch Farm oil production centre near Poole in Dorset, pictured today

The alarming scale of the Poole Harbour oil spill can be seen in the first aerial images of the leak.

Poole Harbour oil spill may have ‘devastating’ impact on local nature

Environmental charities and experts say the oil spill in Poole Harbour could have a ‘devastating’ impact on sensitive nature reserves in the area. Here is what they have said:

Dr Malcolm Hudson, associate professor in environmental science at the University of Southampton

‘While we don’t know the full extent of the leak yet, a spill in Poole Harbour raises particular concerns.

‘It’s a very large enclosed bay – and so pollutants may not be flushed out quickly by the tides.

‘Also, it’s a very low energy environment, so unlike a spill on an open coast there won’t be much wave action to help break down and disperse the oil.

‘Poole Harbour is especially sensitive and internationally protected for the wildlife there.

‘Thousands of birds nest there in the spring; they are just arriving and some of the overwintering birds haven’t left yet either. They are all vulnerable to floating oil.

‘There’s also sensitive habitats like mudflats and salt marshes which could be damaged too.

‘Meanwhile, there’s the human angle – people live and work in the marine, there’s a big shellfishery and tourism is a big part of the local economy.

‘Not only is this potentially a serious environmental incident, it illustrates the risks we take if we place infrastructure like oil pipelines in such sensitive locations.’

Martin Barnes, marine response expert at environmental management company Ambipar

‘The leak from the pipeline on Sunday was well reservoir fluid which is a brine mixture that contains an element of physical oil.

‘The mixture will provide a visually unattractive sheen on the surface that will dissipate through evaporation during daylight hours.

‘Some oil deposits may be left behind on solid surfaces, mammals, aquatic life and humans that have been in contact with the discharge during the release period.

‘The deployed booms should contain any oil on the surface so it can be recovered.

‘The brine element (water) of the discharge is also a hazard to the environment that will be very difficult to deal with as it will become diluted by the sea water, making it impossible to be recovered at sea.’

Richard Hill from the Marine Conservation Society

‘I am shocked and saddened to see yet another oil spill in UK waters. We need better protection for sensitive sites such as Poole Harbour.

‘The seabird breeding season is about to take place and there are tern and gull colonies close by at Brownsea Island that may be vulnerable.

‘It would be awful for a future spill to impact on the wider area of the harbour, home to overwintering and breeding birds, or sensitive habitats such as the seagrass beds outside at Studland.

‘This incident should be considered a warning to adequately protect sensitive sites and ensure that oil industry infrastructure is up to the task.

‘We cannot allow these spills to continue to happen.’

Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner Philip Evans

‘This latest spill demonstrates the environmental devastation that comes with oil and gas drilling.

‘Poole Harbour will still be drenched in oil when ministers decide whether or not to give the green light to the controversial Rosebank oilfield later this week. Surely this should give them pause for thought.’

Alice Harrison, fossil fuels campaign leader at Global Witness

‘Despite all the safety promises fossil fuel companies make, they simply cannot guarantee against these kinds of incidents. Sooner or later, this is the unavoidable reality of the oil industry.

‘It’s baffling that there are still MPs in the UK Parliament who complain about wind and solar farms spoiling the British landscape when the alternative is toxic oil polluting our waters and killing our wildlife.’

Large sheens of oil have appeared on the surface of the water in a harbour inlet which is an important wildlife habit.

Although a team of oil spill responders have laid a 100ft long boom across the inlet, the oily film can clearly be seen on both sides of it, suggesting the leak has not been totally contained.

On the other side of the south coast harbour oily puddles have appeared on the shoreline by Hamworthy Park along with blobs of a black tar-like substance.

The owners of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog believe their pet was left with badly swollen paws after coming into contact with the pollution yesterday.

Stephen Glover, the owner of Stella the dog, described smelling a ‘stink of oil’ similar to a petrol station forecourt before his pet emerged from the water with blackened feet.

Mr Glover, a company director, and partner Debbie Haughton took Stella home and cleaned her up but he said the grease-like substance was very difficult to get off her paws.

Mr Glover, 65, said: ‘I took my dog down to Hamworthy Park as I do every day and there was this stink of oil. It was quite shocking.

‘The smell was like standing on a garage forecourt when there’s been a diesel spill, it was a very obvious smell.

‘I started noticing lumps of congealed oil on the beach. My dog walked through it and it looked like she was wearing black socks it was so thick.

‘We got her home and tried to clean it off her with washing up liquid and baby wipes, but it wasn’t altogether successful. It was like grease, it was really difficult to remove.

‘Her paws were all swollen up and red afterwards so I don’t know if that was a reaction to the oil.

‘I’ve been back down and some of it seems to have gone but I think a big clean up job is going to be needed.’

It is feared that almost 5,000 litres of oil from 31,000 litres of reservoir liquid leaked from a pipeline into Poole Harbour, one of the UK’s most important and protected sites for wildlife.

The pipeline runs from the Wytch Farm oil field on the Arne peninsula to Furzey Island, where there are oil wells.

The site is the largest onshore oil field in western Europe, producing 20,000 barrels of oil a day. It is owned by Perenco.

Olivia Parton, 82, a retired chef, said she believes the spill must have taken place on Saturday as she saw a large amount of oil in the sea yesterday morning.

She said: ‘I was walking 10.45am on Sunday and I could smell oil. I then looked out to the water and there were these dots, like 50p coins, of oil scattered everywhere.

‘Then I noticed what must have been a 50ft long, thin strip of oil on the surface.’

The RSPB’s nature reserve at Arne on the edge of the harbour is home to lots of native wildlife, particularly rare birds including Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars.

The important habitat is 565 hectares and has a mix of heathland, woodland, grassland and mud flats.

The reserve has international significance for winter waders and wildfowl. Arne is home to the second largest population of avocets in the UK.

Wildlife conservationists have expressed their worries the oil spill could have on the local bird population.

And Brian Bleese, chief executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said the leak could not have happened in a more important place or at a more crucial time for wildlife.

He said: ‘It is very early days but we are very concerned about it, 200 barrels is quite an amount and Poole Harbour is such a special place for wildlife, particularly breeding birds.

‘Sandwich and common terns are arriving in the lagoon area of Brownsea Island and a whole host of wading birds use Poole Harbour.

‘What we will be doing over the coming days and weeks is monitoring all of the areas sensitive to wildlife, patrolling the shore and looking for any signs there may be of contamination of birds.

‘It can matte their feathers and affect their ability to fly and to feed and of course it can poison them.

‘Other concerns that are less obvious is the effect on sealife like bivalve shellfish. It was a mix of oil and contaminated water so although the oil will hopefully disperse that will leave contaminants in the water. That’s less easy to see.

‘We do expect Perenco to take action to clean this up and there will need to be a proper investigation to make sure it never happens again.

‘It absolutely could not have happened in a worse place. Poole Harbour is a very protected environment – an SSSI, a special protection area and a conservation area.’

The clean-up continues this morning after thousands of litres of oil leaked into Poole Harbour

An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning

Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today

An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning

Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today

An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning

Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Ower Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today

A local birdwatcher, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was worried about the oil spill on the harbour’s bird population.

Poole Harbour oil spill: What we know so far

What has happened and where?

About 200 barrels of reservoir fluid was released into Poole Harbour after a leak occurred from a pipeline at Wytch Farm oil field on Sunday. The incident was first reported after 2pm.

The oil field in Dorset has been operating since 1979 and is one of the largest onshore oil fields in Europe.

How much oil has leaked?

About 15 per cent of the 31,000 litres (7,000 gallons) of fluid that has leaked is believed to be oil, meaning that almost 5,000 litres (1,000 gallons) of it may have polluted the harbour.

What is being done in response?

A team of oil spill responders have laid a 100ft long boom across the inlet, but the oily film can clearly be seen on both sides of it from an aerial view.

Poole Harbour Commissioners are leading the clear-up of the spill and say the situation is now under control. An investigation has also been launched.

What if you come into contact with it?

Anyone who has come into contact with the spill should wash immediately with soap and water, health experts say. If eyes come into contact with it, they should be rinsed with water.

What is the impact on wildlife?

The RSPB’s nature reserve at Arne on the edge of the harbour is home to lots of native wildlife, particularly rare birds including Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars. Conservationists have expressed fears about how the spill could impact the local bird population.

He said: ‘They are saying it’s a small amount of oil but it can spread over a huge area. It’s a bit like saying the bird is only getting a little bit of cyanide.’

Wildlife charity Birds of Poole Harbour said the incident is ‘incredibly worrying’.

The harbour is home to a pair of ospreys which are part of a ground-breaking conservation project trying to re-establish an osprey colony in the south of England.

The male osprey returned to the harbour from West Africa on Sunday morning and will use the harbour as a feeding ground over the next coming days.

A spokesman for Birds of Poole Harbour said: ‘Although we don’t know the full extent of the spill yet, the fact it’s happened right in the middle of such an environmentally important area is incredibly worrying.

‘Poole Harbour hosts nationally and internationally important numbers of wetland birds.

‘Right now we’re in that important transition period where our winter birds are leaving, and our summer birds are arriving, many of which use the southern shore of the harbour for feeding, nesting and hunting.

‘The local community have an incredibly strong attachment to the harbour and it’s environment which was highlighted yesterday morning when our male Osprey arrived back safely from West Africa, exciting thousands of people as he landed on the nest seen via a camera we installed this winter.

‘The elation of the male’s safe return home yesterday morning was soon dashed by late afternoon when news of the oil spill was announced.

‘Right now huge numbers of birds are on the move, having over-wintered further south and will soon be using Poole Harbour as a service station to feed up before continuing north.

‘There are several areas of concern. One is that any birds that come into physical contact with this substance can see their feathers damaged and become less water resistant.

‘The substance will also encourage any affected birds to preen constantly, meaning they could ingest the hazardous liquid.

‘The other unknown is how much of the oil will settle on the mud and harbour shorelines and what impact will that have on marine invertebrates.

Stephen Glover and partner Debbie Haughton with their dog Stella on the other side of Poole harbour where oily puddles and tar-like blobs have appeared along the shoreline

The Poole Harbour area, as seen from from Hamworthy Park beach, Dorset, where a major incident has been declared after oil leaked from a pipeline into the harbour

Oil workers seen today at Wellsite D at Owers Bay in Poole harbour following a major oil leak

‘Although thankfully, as of yet there have been no confirmed reports of any birds showing signs of distress as a result of the incident, although it is still early days.’

Dante Munns, the RSPB area manager for Dorset, said: ‘As it is on Poole Harbour, the location is really important as the impact could be massive for conservation.

‘We were quite lucky by the quick response, and it brought together authoritative bodies to deal with the incident. Hopefully the dispersion of the oil is quick.’

Jim Stewart, from the Poole Harbour Commissioners said: ‘We have a huge team, over 60 individuals, who are looking at the harbour.

‘We have helicopters and drones flying across to ascertain how much oil has been released and where it has come ashore.

‘Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours, 10,000 acres, so it is a huge area. We have four separate teams combing the harbour to understand the extent of the spill.’