The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention has approved Shell UK’s plans to remove oil contained in the Gannet pipeline.
The operation will recover the majority of the oil remaining in the carrier pipe, at a water depth of 91m (300ft), following an oil leak from the pipeline that was successfully stopped in August 2011.
The flowlines of the carrier pipe will be flushed clean in a secondary operation planned to take place in spring 2013, with any remaining oil also safely removed.
The area around the Gannet Field and the subsea flowline has been under observation since the oil leak was stopped and no subsequent release has been detected.
The approval comes in consultation with DECC, Health and Safety Executive, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Marine Scotland.
[mappress] Press Release, August 16, 2012