Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – Aker BP must present solutions to address marking deficiencies on the flare boom on the Valhall PH platform in the southern Norwegian North Sea.
According to Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), the flare lacks the marking and lighting required by regulations.
Following an earlier application, the PSA granted the company temporary exemption from the marking requirements until Sept. 1. Aker BP then applied for a permanent exemption, but the PSA has rejected this request.
So at present, Valhall PH’s flare boom is not marked and lit as specified. This has consequences for the use of the platform’s helideck and the way safety is managed during night time helicopter flights.
The Authority has ordered the company to provide a written explanation by end-January 2022 on how it plans to comply with the regulations.
It has also forwarded the case to Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority, which supports the PSA on helideck/helicopter operations issues.
12/22/2021
