Production

North Sea Sleipner platform offline following smoke incident

Oct. 23, 2024

Equinor has shut down the unmanned Sleipner B production platform in the Norwegian North Sea, following a report of smoke in the switchgear room Oct. 22.

Related To: Equinor

Sleipner T and Sleipner R are both connected permanently with a bridge to Sleipner A processing and drilling platform. Sleipner B is unmanned and is periodically operated by operations and maintenance personnel transferred from Sleipner A in helicopter.

Equinor has shut down the unmanned Sleipner B production platform in the Norwegian North Sea, following a report of smoke in the switchgear room yesterday morning. The company reported there is no danger to life and health.

Equinor issued an Oct. 23 update that stated the Skandi Mongstad and Esvagt Bergen emergency vessels have used seawater to cool down the platform from a distance during the day.

The emergency vessels Skandi Mongstad and Esvagt Bergen have since sprayed seawater to cool down the platform from a distance and will remain nearby to monitor the situation.

A search and rescue helicopter was also due to fly over the platform with a thermal imaging camera.

The platform has been depressurized and is without power. Equinor stressed that the reduction in gas exports will not have any impact on commitments made to its gas buyers.

Sleipner B is in the Sleipner Vest area, 12.5 km from the Sleipner A platform.

Equinor previously shut down the Sleipner complex following two gas leaks in July 2022.