Statfjord A to Restart Production

The Statfjord A platform organization is preparing to restart production after an oil leak Saturday (May 24). Production on Snorre A and Vigdis was resumed Sunday, May 25.

"After the situation was normalized Saturday the employees on Statfjord A have done a great job tidying and cleaning the area in the platform shaft where the leak occurred. This work must be completed before production is resumed," says Lars Petter Lundahl, head of Statfjord production.

When the oil leak occurred between a storage cell and one of the platform shafts Saturday, oily water was pumped into the sea for safety reasons. The oil discharge mainly consisted of water, with a small percentage of oil.

Observations from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research indicate that there has been no significant harm to sea birds, fish or other species.  The monitoring of the discharge by airplane and vessel continues.

The two persons that were exposed to gas vapor Saturday morning were transported onshore for medical evaluation and taken off the sick list Saturday evening.

The oil production from Statfjord A normally totals about 19,000 barrels per day. StatoilHydro's interest is 44.34%

Production from Snorre A and Vigdis resumed on Sunday. The production is brought to Gullfaks A for treatment and export. Due to capacity restrictions in the pipeline to  Gullfaks A, the production from Snorre A is slightly below normal capacity.

The oil production from Snorre A normally totals about 75,000 barrels per day. StatoilHydro's interest in the field is 33.32%.

The Vigdis field normally produces some 44,000 barrels per day. StatoilHydro's interest is 41.50%.