After Norwegian Energy Company ASA (Noreco) announced that the Siri would not return online until Q2 2014, the Danish Energy Agency approved a temporary production solution to allow for a Q1 2014 restart.
Siri, wholly-owned by operator DONG Energy, was shut down in July due to a crack in a bulkhead inside the tank sponson, which is a riser support structure connected to the storage tank.
The temporary solution involves the transfer of stabilized crude directly to tanker. Operating restrictions have been imposed, including de-manning of all personnel when significant wave heights at the platform exceed 6m.
As the platform facility processes crude produced from NORECO’s Nini, Nini East and Cecilie fields, DONG said that these fields’ production may also resume in Q1 2014. Prior to the shutdown, Noreco reported its share of combined production from these three fields was 2,893bo/d. Going forward, however, Noreco said that output could be difficult to predict due to the imposed operating restructions.
Siri has had a troubled history. In October 2011, DONG announced a US$384MM permanent repair program after a production stoppage on the MOPUStor platform. Inspection revealed cracks in a subsea structure connected to the storage tank.
Image: Siri platform.