Platform evacuated after gas leak alert
THE offshore platform which was at the centre of the North Sea’s biggest oil spill for a decade has been partially evacuated following a gas escape underneath the installation.
Oil giant Shell confirmed yesterday that 48 non essential workers on the company’s Gannet platform, 112 miles east of Aberdeen, had been evacuated after natural gas was spotted beneath the platform on Monday. A total of 28 personnel remain on board.
In August last year, almost 220 tonnes of oil, equal to 1,300 barrels, spewed into the North Sea from a leak in one of the platform’s subsea pipelines and Shell is facing possible prosecution over the major spill.
A Shell spokeswoman said: “The relevant authorities have been informed and an investigation is under way into the source and cause of the gas release. The shut down on the platform has been completed.”
The alarm was raised after a sheen was seen on the surface of the water.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: “Inspectors will be on the platform once the blow-down depressurisation of the platform is complete.”
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