Ithaca Energy is reducing the number of crew on one of its North Sea installations after a Covid-19 outbreak.
The firm said it has taken a “number of steps” after several workers on the Captain field, around 90 miles north-east of Aberdeen in the Outer Moray Firth, tested positive for the virus.
Measures taken by Ithaca include carrying out a “deep clean” of the facility and testing remaining crew.
It’s understood that at least three crew members tested positive for the virus upon returning to Aberdeen from the platform.
Ithaca said that all close contacts have been identified and are isolating on Captain ahead of being evacuated.
The Aberdeen firm has been hit hard by the spike in Covid cases offshore in recent weeks.
Last month, Ithaca was to forced shut down production on the FPF-1 platform after a handful of cases were detected on board.
The number of people that tested positive for the virus eventually rose to 17.
It was almost two weeks before the facility was able to restart production, with the firm bringing in pre-mobilisation testing on all its operated assets as a result.
Discovered in 1977, Captain comprises a bridge-linked platform connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, as well as a wellhead protector platform.
Ithaca, a subsidiary of Israeli firm Delek Group, took an 85% stake in the field through its acquisition of US oil major Chevron’s UK North Sea business in 2019.
A spokesman for the firm said: “Ithaca Energy has taken a number of steps in response to positive cases of Covid-19 in personnel who had been working in the Captain Field, which lies approximately 90 miles (145 km) north-east of Aberdeen, Scotland, in the Outer Moray Firth.
“All close contacts of the positive cases have been identified and will remain isolated from the rest of the crew, under the supervision of the onboard medic, until they can be down-manned from the asset and tested on their return to shore.
“Additionally, we are conducting testing of those personnel who remain offshore, undertaking a deep clean of our facilities and reducing the number of personnel on board.
“The safety and wellbeing of our workforce is our top priority. Public Health Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been notified. Ithaca Energy tests all personnel prior to mobilisation offshore.”
