| Health Safety Environment |
Hoof & mouth disease halts Mongolian well operations
(6/1/2010 - OGI: London) Petro Matad has temporarily suspended operations in preparation for drilling its DT-1 exploration well on the Davsan Tolgoi Prospect in Mongolia's Block XX in Dornod Aimag) due to an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease.
The company said that the epidemic of the disease, also known as foot and mouth disease, rarely affects humans, but is highly contagious and often deadly to many animals but particularly cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic cows, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, and wild deer and antelope. It said that the governor of Dornod Aimag has ordered a quarantine of the area, preventing supply trucks coming in to the DT-1 wellsite and personnel from leaving the site. The order is in force at least until 9 June.
While spudding of the DT-1 well is imminent, the company decided that, for engineering, logistical, and safety reasons it would not be practical to commence drilling while movements are so restricted. A skeleton crew from the company remains on site, along with the complete Chinese drilling team. The site team will continue to perform as much maintenance and preparatory work on the rig as can be achieved.
Petro Matad CEO Douglas McGay said, "While this delay is inopportune and mildly frustrating to the management and shareholders, we are fully cooperating with the local authorities to ensure the limitation and elimination of this potentially disastrous disease from our area of operation. It is more important to protect the health of the livestock and the herders of our area of operation, in addition to the well being of our own people and those of our contractors. We will be monitoring and assisting over the next 10 days and hope for a speedy resolution and recommencement of operations."
Click here for earlier report.
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