Between 14 and 27 March 2015, the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway carried out an audit of Gassco and the removal of the B11 platform located in the North Sea.
This platform stands in the German sector of the North Sea and is connected to the Norpipe gas pipeline, which runs from Ekofisk in the Norwegian sector to the port of Emden in Germany. According to Gassco, B11 is to be removed because the need for gas compression in Norpipe has declined in recent years.
The PSA says that the removal and disposal of facilities is an increasing relevant topic now that many of the facilities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf are approaching the end of their service lives. The removal and disposal of such facilities brings particular challenges relating to materials handling, safety and the working environment for employees.
According to the PSA, the objective of the audit was to verify that Gassco has established a functioning management system for ensuring that materials handling, working environment and personnel safety during the removal work for B11 are prudent.
As a result of the audit, two non-conformities were identified in connection with lifting equipment and facilities and scaffolding.
In addition, improvement points were identified in connection with noise and language.
The safety authority added that Gassco AS has been given a deadline of June 30, 2015 to report on how non-conformities and improvement points will be dealt with.
[mappress mapid=”1884″]