Statoil recently halted production on the Statfjord C platform off Norway after a “limited” oil leak in to the Norwegian Sea. No injuries were reported by the firm, but its 270 crewmembers were boarded lifeboats until the leak was identified and stopped.
Statoil estimated that a maximum of 32cu m of oil leaked into the sea. The oil discharged from a depressurized trap for liquids in the drainage system located below the cellar deck.
Statfjord C, which is said to be one of three platforms producing from the North Sea field, came online in 1979 and produced about 23,000bo/d in 2013. The platform began production on 26 June 1985, and the field is believed to be one of the oldest producing fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. Stafjord C will remain in production until 2025, with the possibility of further expanding its lifetime.
The company projects that the platform will restart production within a few days.