Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has decided to conduct an investigation into an oil spill which occurred on Statoil’s Statfjord field in the North Sea on October 8.
The oil spill had been observed on the sea close to the OLS B loading buoy on the field at around 08.30 a.m local time.
The discovery was made while loading crude from Statfjord A into the Hilda Knutsen shuttle tanker via the buoy, which stands between the A and B platforms.
According to a preliminary assessment by Statoil, the spill could be within the range of 40 cubic metres of oil.
The PSA has resolved to investigate this incident, in part to clarify the course of events and to identify the direct and underlying causes.
Issues due to be covered will include the technical condition, maintenance and operation of the offshore loading system.