North Sea operators have begun flying staff ashore ahead after forecasts of 10m waves and storm force conditions this weekend.
ConocoPhillips has pulled more than 150 people from the Ekofisk field, while BP has flown 120 more from the Valhall field on the Norwegian North Sea.
Talisman Sinopec are set to withdraw around 100 staff from the Buchan Alpha floating production unit, with others watching forecasts.
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed staff had been taken off the FPSO, which produces around 5,000 barrels of oil per day.
“Talisman Sinopec Energy advised HSE that they had made the decision to down man the Buchan Alpha,” the HSE said.
“This is in line with their safety case, which HSE accepted.”
See video of the Buchan Alpha in stormy conditions below
http://youtu.be/aba9u1ZiWms
Heavy snow is forecast for Norway at the end of this week, with Northern Scotland also set for high winds and snowfalls from tomorrow.
But the staff withdrawals are not expected to impact output from the fields.
A spokesman for ConocoPhillips said the move was standard procedure, with no operations affected by preparations for the storm.
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