An oil spill that has hit a tourist island in the Gulf of Thailand has spread to nearby smaller isles as workers race to clean up the once-white sands and clear waters.

The Australian government has blamed the rig operator for the country’s worst oil spill.

A report into a huge oil spill off Australia strikingly similar to the Gulf Coast one was handed to the government today.

Australia promised an investigation today after a massive fire erupted on an oil rig that had been leaking into the Timor Sea – the latest drama in a 10-week saga to plug the hole.

Shell is planning to build the world's first floating liquefied natural gas plant.