Gas leak forces partial evacuation of North Sea oil platform

Published on Thursday 9 February 2012 11:26

AN OIL platform in the North Sea had to be partially evacuated after a gas leak was discovered, Shell confirmed today.

Production was halted on the Gannet Alpha Platform while the leak, underneath the platform, was detected.

Of the 76 staff on the platform, 48 were returned to shore by helicopter while the leak was investigated.

The oil firm said staffing will remain reduced until the investigation is complete.

A Shell spokeswoman said: “The problem was identified when staff noticed a shimmering under the platform on Monday afternoon. The platform was successfully down-manned of all non-essential personnel as a precaution.”

According to the spokeswoman, the gas was a “one-off release” and all relevant authorities, including the Health and Safety Executive and the coastguard, have been notified.

In August more than 200 tonnes of oil spilled into the North Sea from a leak in the flowline to Gannet Alpha, about 112 miles east of Aberdeen.

It was the worst oil spill in the region in more than a decade.

Shell said Monday’s gas leak is not related to the spillage in August and took place on a different line.

Last month BP’s Foinaven field, 120 miles west of Shetland, was shut when a small oil leak was discovered, apparently caused by a hairline fracture on an infield flowline. It was found during a routine inspection and was stopped within an hour of being spotted, according to the owners.

Environmental charity WWF Scotland voiced its concern about the “threat” posed by deep-sea drilling and urged Scotland to “end it’s addiction to oil” and instead lead the world with clean energy.

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antiparasite

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:25 AM

What about the spills that are kept out the media, even though they know about them?

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Arthur G

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Oh well, that's an end to the independence debate, then? I mean if we can't even ensure that oil platforms are a hundred percent free of danger and accidents, how can our 'too wee. too poor and too stupid country' even contemplate separation from the protective bosom of Westminster and the British state?

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