After extensive investigations, Respol Sinopec had found no evidence of a North Sea oil leak.
The operator launched the probe after an oil sheen was spotted near its Montrose Alpha and Arbroath platforms in the UKCS North Sea on Saturday, March 12.
The firm shutdown production and de-pressurised the pipeline as investigations were carried out; however, it has found no indication that the sheen was a result of a production leak.
A spokesman said: “Following identification of a sheen in the vicinity of the Montrose-Arbroath subsea pipeline last Saturday, there has been an ongoing programme of review and inspection in the area. The offshore response included monitoring by crew change aircraft , remote operated vehicle, and standby vessels in the field. To date no evidence of any release from the pipeline or any other source has been identified.
“Samples were collected at the time the sheen was found which were subsequently sent onshore for specialist analysis. This analysis has now been completed and the results have confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon. However, analysis against samples of Montrose and Arbroath production fluids have confirmed there is not a match.
“On this basis, production from the asset is now being fully reinstated. During this time increased monitoring of the sea surface will be carried out in the field.
“BEIS and HSE have been updated throughout the response and are both aware of the results of the analysis and our forward plan.”
The Montrose and Abroath platforms make-up are located 200km east of Aberdeen. They are part of the Montrose Area Redevelopment (MAR), which will unlock an additional 100 million boe of reserves and extend the life of the Montrose Area to beyond 2030.
MAR involves significant modification and expansion of the existing Montrose Area infrastructure, including the development of three new fields – Godwin, Cayley and Shaw.
The Montrose Alpha is one of the North Sea’s oldest platform. It was installed in 1976.