Platform Shut Down after Leak

A small natural gas leak on the Statfjord A offshore platform shut down 160,000 barrels per day of Norwegian oil production on Feb. 14. The leak was quickly traced to a small hole in a water pipe, and that production was expected to resume within 24 hours. Any gas leak on an offshore platform can lead to catastrophic explosions and fires if ignited. The leak shut down the 30,000 barrel per day Statfjord A platform as well as the linked 130,000 barrels per day Snorre A platform. The majority of the 244 crew aboard Statfjord A took to their lifeboats as a precaution, and remained there for about two hours until the situation was clarified. There was no need to evacuate. The Houston Chronicle reported that the leak was from a test separator, used to determine the water, oil and gas content from a field. (Source: Houston Chronicle)