Ithaca Energy has restarted production on its FPF-1 platform in the North Sea following a Covid outbreak two weeks ago.
The operator confirmed on January 21 that it had shut down the installation after four people caught the virus and several others were put in quarantine.
The number of confirmed cases linked to the outbreak eventually rose to 17.
As of Monday February 1, Ithaca said production on the platform, 150miles east of Aberdeen, had been restored following the Covid cases.
A spokesperson said: “In response to crew members testing positive for coronavirus on the FPF-1 Floating Production Facility last month we have reviewed our Covid-19 procedures, completed a deep clean of the FPF-1, implemented testing of those on board the installation, and increased cleaning schedules.”
The company has also introduced pre-mobilisation testing on all of its operated assets, the spokesperson added, allowing for a “controlled process of increasing the number of personnel on board the FPF-1”.
During the week of the FPF-1 outbreak, the number of Category C patients, those who are suspected to have the virus and are symptomatic, reached their highest weekly figure since February 2020.
The numbers saw industry body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) push for vaccinations for offshore workers “as a priority”.
Meanwhile, category B cases – non-symptomatic patients who have been in close contact – more than doubled since October to 769, according to the group’s flight data.
Trevor Stapleton, HSE director at OGUK, said the figures were a reflection of the wider UK picture, but said he hoped the numbers will level off as lockdown restriction measures take effect.
A series of other Covid incidents took place last month, including on the CNOOC Scott platform, the Premier Oil Balmoral installation, the Apache Forties Bravo and the Total Gryphon FPSO.
On Monday it was confirmed that more than a dozen workers had meanwhile been removed from the BP ETAP production hub in the North Sea due to two separate cases on board.