Island oil workers affected by rig shutdown 3/3/13
Island oil workers are amongst those affected by the evacuation of a North Sea platform.
The Cormorant Alpha rig and pipeline infrastructure has been shut down after an oil
leak was discovered in one of its four concrete legs during routine maintenance -
the second leak detected within weeks.
The previous leak in January affected about 10% of the UK’s oil production as Cormorant
Alpha platform is also the pumping station for the the Brent pipeline which services
around 27 oil fields and exports their oil to Sullom Voe in Shetland.
It normally transfers about 90,000 barrles daily including 10,000 barrels of Cormorant
Alpha won production.
On Saturday, 71 personnel were choppered off the platform about 230 miles east of
Peterhead, over 90 miles off Shetland, while operator TAQA Bratani launched an investigation.
Some 74 employees remained onboard to tackle the leak. It has now been contained
and no oil escaped into the sea said the company.
A number of Western Isles offshore workers are employed on Cormorant Alpha and its
associated platforms. All personnel are safe and well.
A TAQA Bratani spokesperson said: "TAQA Bratani can confirm that a hydrocarbon release
detected in one of the Cormorant Alpha platform legs has now been contained, with
no further hydrocarbon release.
"All pipeline infrastructure remains shut down as a precaution.”
The company is working to have the pipeline system operational as soon as possible.