Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) can confirm that an indication of hydrocarbons was detected in one of the legs of the Cormorant Alpha platform in the northern UK North Sea at 16.15 hours local UK time on January 14.
Since the discovery, hydrocarbon levels have been continually monitored. The platform and all pipeline infrastructure have been shut down as a precaution. The hydrocarbons are contained within the platform leg and none have been released into the environment. A technical team is investigating the source of the hydrocarbons.
“ There are 159 people on board and our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our people. All those on board have been accounted for and they are all safe and well. We have stopped all non-essential work on the platform to focus all our efforts on addressing this issue. As a precaution, we will be taking all non-essential crew off the installation. This will be done by scheduled helicopter flights throughout the day “, the company said.
Cormorant Alpha handles approximately 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, of which 42,600 bpd are produced by TAQA.
The installation is owned and operated by TAQA Bratani Ltd and is located 232 miles from Peterhead and 94 miles from Lerwick.
[mappress] Press Release, January 15, 2013