Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway – Statoil (OSE:STL;NYSE:STO) is investigating a gas leak on the Heimdal platform in the Norwegian North Sea. Petroleum Safety Authority Norway will conduct its own inquiry.
The gas leak occurred last weekend during testing of emergency shutdown valves. The installation was not in service at the time due to a maintenance shutdown. However, there were still pressurized systems in areas not included in the turnaround program.
Emergency response was mobilized both on the platform and onshore, with standby vessels and helicopters dispatched to the area.
None of the 98 people onboard the platform were injured during the incident. They were temporarily mustered in lifeboats, but were able to resume their normal tasks shortly afterward.
The incident has been provisionally classified as Red 1, meaning it is subject to internal investigation by Development and Production Norway.
5/30/2012
