AN EXCLUSION zone has been set up around an oil well in southern Queensland, which has been leaking about 50,000 litres a day for almost a week.

Santos today confirmed it discovered the leak in their Jackson oil fields, and brought in international experts to bring it under control late yesterday.

The well, in the company's Zeus field, is believed to have started leaking either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning last week. The company's Jackson facility is about 160km west of Thargomindah,

While it was described as a "limited leak" the company said it was generating about 300 barrels a day. A barrel is equivalent to 158 litres.

A Santos spokesman said that now the well had been contained it would be able to access the site and see what environmental damage had been done.

It expected it would have soak up the oil and remove affected soil.



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Originally published as Oil well leaking 50,000 litres a day