Norway’s safety watchdog has launched an investigation into a “serious” oil spill in the North Sea last week.
According to the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA), the discharge occurred in connection with production starting up on Equinor’s Tordis field.
Oil is claimed to have spilt into the sea from the Gullfaks C facility, also operated by the Norwegian energy giant, on April 26.
Since 1995, Gullfaks has received and processed oil from Tordis through a subsea tie back.
The size of the spill is estimated to be 17.5 cubic metres of oil, with the PSA regarding it as “serious”.
The regulator has now kicked off an investigation to identify the causes of the leak, as well as possible lessons.
In conducting its investigation, the PSA said it would:
- clarify the course of events and the scope of the incident
- assess the actual and potential consequences of the incident
- assess direct and underlying causes
- identify nonconformities and improvement points related to the regulations
- apply necessary enforcement powers to correct possible regulatory breaches
- make public its findings
- contribute to experience transfer to and learning by other players in the petroleum sector
After its conclusion, the investigation will be summed up in a report and published online.
The Gulfaks field, which is located in the northern section of the Norwegian North Sea, first came on stream in 1986.
It is comprised of three platforms, Gulfaks A, B and C,
A spokesman for Equinor said: “The incident with oil to sea from produced water at the Gullfaks field last week will be followed up in Equinor as well.”
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