BP is taking workers off its Magnus platform in the UK North Sea, following a recently reported contamination of drinking water aboard the unit.
As previously reported by the UK media, an unspecified amount of diesel entered into the potable water tanks aboard the platform.
At the time, in the second week of November, BP said that testing had shown “low level of contamination with hydrocarbons, probably diesel,” explaining that the level of diesel contamination of the water supply is “far below the level at which health might be affected.”
It did advise its workers, however, to use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth until advised otherwise. Showering is allowed.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, BP told Offshore Energy Today that it was taking off non-essential personnel during the inspection to identify the cause of contamination.
A BP spokesperson said: “A detailed inspection programme to determine the root cause of the potable water issue on Magnus is ongoing. In order to lessen the impact of this inspection work on the teams offshore we have decided to remove a small number of non-essential personnel from the platform. Around 40 of the 180 on board are expected to be taken off.
“Our priority remains to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those remaining on the platform and understand the source of contamination.”
Magnus is the UK’s most northerly field, located 160 kilometers NE of the Shetland Islands, mainly in Block 211/12a. The oil field was discovered in March 1974 in acreage licensed to BP in the 4th licensing round. Oil was found 2,709 meters below the seabed in a water depth of 186 meters.
Offshore Energy Today Staff