Statoil has been hit by another offshore incident, this time on its Gullfaks B platform located off Norway, prompting an investigation by the country’s offshore safety body.
The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) informed on Wednesday that an investigation has been launched into a “lifting incident involving pipehandling” on Statoil’s North Sea platform.
According to the agency’s statement, part of the Eagle Arm crane on this platform came loose and fell to the pipedeck. The load on the crane weighed 17 tonnes and the drop height was 10 meters.
No personal injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.
The safety authority’s team is on Wednesday heading to Gullfaks B to investigate the incident. Among other goals, the team will seek to clarify the course of events and identify direct and underlying causes in order to contribute to learning and experience transfer.
Offshore Energy Today has reached out to Statoil seeking confirmation and further details about the incident. However, the company was not immediately available for comment.
The main Gullfaks field lies in block 34/10 in the northern part of the Norwegian North Sea. It has been developed with three large concrete production platforms. The Gullfaks A platform began production in December 1986, with Gullfaks B following in February 1988, and the C platform in November 1989.
The A platform is also used for storing and exporting stabilised crude from the Vigdis and Visund fields. Oil and gas from Gullfaks B is transferred to the A and C platforms for processing, storage and export.
Offshore Energy Today Staff