North Sea operator Statoil has been hit with a £1million fine after sending polluted water into the oil flow from its Oseberg C platform.
The company admitted sending 180 cubic metres of wash water, which is classed as hazardous waste, through the oil export pipeline to the Sture terminal.
The water, which contains chemicals and scale, was sent through the pipes in May 2011.
Statoil said it had changed the procedures on the platform to prevent a repeat of the incident.
“This was a highly regrettable incident that should not have occurred,” says Terje Gunnar Hauge, head of Oseberg operations.