Norwegian offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has found a non-conformity during an audit of regulatory requirements for electrical installations on ConocoPhillips’ Ekofisk 2/4 K-B platforms offshore Norway.
PSA found one non-conformity in connection with the notification of hazard and accident situations.
Also, two improvement points were identified regarding internal company requirements for, and follow-up of, electricians’ qualifications and professional competence.
Ekofisk is Norway’s first producing field located in the North Sea about 320 km southwest of Stavanger. It produces both oil and gas in an area of 10 x 5 kilometers, 3000 meters below sea level. Production on Ekofisk began in 1971.
Ekofisk 2/4 B is a production platform for oil and gas with 24 wells. The platform is linked via a bridge to Ekofisk 2/4 K which is a water injection and accommodation platform with 30 wells. The living quarters module on the 2/4 K platform has 182 beds on five floors and accommodates personnel working on both platforms.
PSA said on Wednesday that the objective of the audit was to monitor how the company is complying with the regulations relating to working in and operating electrical installations.
The audit began with an internal meeting between ConocoPhillips Skandinavia (COPSAS) and PSA on August 5. PSA auditors were not able to conduct the audit on the platforms themselves due to bad weather, so they were limited to verifications of selected systems for operation and maintenance, document reviews, discussions with relevant personnel in the operations organization on land, and interviews with workers from the platforms via video call.
The safety body added that particular emphasis was put on following up how the company deals with challenges relating to technical integrity of electrical installations, systems, and equipment on aging platforms.
Furthermore, the PSA said that the company completed the necessary upgrades and replacement of safety-critical systems and equipment required for life extension. Also, the company told the PSA its plans for further upgrades over the next few years.
PSA told ConocoPhillips to report on how the non-conformity and improvement points will be dealt with by November 1, 2016.