PSA probes Barents Sea well incident

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway – The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) is investigating a well control incident in the Barents Sea last Wednesday.

It occurred on the Seadrill-owned semisubmersibleWest Hercules which has been drilling the 7132/2-1 exploration well for Equinor.

During the operation, the lower marine riser package on the BOP was unintentionally disconnected, forcing work to be halted. No personal injuries or environmental discharges resulted, and the cause of the incident remains unknown.

In the North Sea, the PSA has authorized Gassco to continue operating the Vesterled pipeline system until the production license expires in 2028.

Vesterled transports dry gas from the Heimdal riser platform to St. Fergus on the Scottish east coast.

01/22/2019