DNV GL Approves Modification for Semi-Submersible Rigs
Following the accident involving COSLInnovator on 30 December 2015, some 100 semi-submersible rigs approved by DNV GL will be reviewed. Preliminary assessments indicate that a limited number of rigs will be subjected to modifications or operational limitations. The semi-submersible rig COSLInnovator was drilling for Statoil in the Troll field when it was hit by a large, steep wave. Several windows on the rig's two lower decks were shattered. One person was killed. “Since the incident, we have made great efforts to identify what happened, understand how this could happen and, most importantly, implement actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring again,” says Ernst Meyer, DNV GL Director for Offshore Classification.
New Subsea Report on Tech, Safety and Trends
DNV GL has issued the report ‘Subsea – Technology Developments, Incidents and Future Trends’ on behalf of the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority. “The ongoing increase in technology enhancement and the number of worldwide subsea field developments will demand greater focus on a number of issues. The report aims to raise awareness and share knowledge within safety, industry cooperation, degradation mechanisms, failure modes, monitoring, integrity management and incident-related information,” said Bjørn Søgård, DNV GL’s segment director for subsea technology. The oil and gas industry’s drive to develop more cost-efficient ways to produce, process and transport oil and gas offshore has in the past few years led to tremendous technology developments on subsea technology.
Arctic Oil Exploration – Consent Given to Lundin Norway SA
The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority (NPSA) consents to Lundin Norway's application to drill with 'Transocean Arctic' rig in the Arctic The consent relates to drilling and production testing of appraisal well 16/2-13 which belongs to production licence 501. The planned position of Transocean Arctic during the drilling of well is in 16/2-13 is: • N 58°49'59.5" • E 02°39'12.25" The drilling will start in June/July 2012. The operation is estimated to last for 43 days, depending on whether a discovery is made.
Delayed Production Start at Njord after Gas Leak
Production on the Njord platform was shut down on April 24 as a result of operational problems with gaskets in a gas export compressor. Later the same day, during work to resume production, a gas leak was discovered in one of the risers. All production on Njord was immediately shut down and will remain shut down until the cause of the leak has been determined. Production at the Njord field has been shut down since April 1 as a safety measure, while inspection of risers is carried out after earlier discoveries of internal damage to a particular type of flexible pipe.
Lifeboat Repairs Shut Down Statoil Oil Fields
Statoil said it aims to restart 200,000 barrels per day of offshore oil production early this week after lifeboat repairs, according to an AP report in the International Herald Tribune. The company was forced to shut down its Snorre A platform and the linked Vigdis platform on Oct. 13 because an industry study found defects in lifeboats essential to evacuating crew in a crisis. A Statoil spokesman said the lifeboats were being upgraded and repaired, and that the best case scenario had production restarting late on Tuesday (October 24). The spokesman also the company's 140,000 barrel per day Heidrun field resumed production on Friday, after it was shut down Wednesday due to bad weather. Snorre A and Heidrun both use the lifeboats that were found to be defective.
