December 2012, Vol. 239 No. 12
Projects
Damaged Ballast Tank Forces Evacuation Of Workers In Norwegian Sea
On Nov. 7, damage to a ballast tank on Floatel Superior working in the Norwegian Sea was discovered. Water seepage caused a 3-4 degree tilt that was corrected and rig stability was re-established.
When the damage to the Superior was discovered, a planned maintenance shutdown was being carried out on the Njord A platform for Statoil that involved upgrading of the process plant and other projects. Therefore, no processing or drilling was the taking place.
Statoil’s emergency response organization was mobilized and a personnel reception center set up in Kristiansund. Six helicopters and an emergency response vessel deployed to assist the evacuation. An anchor-handling vessel was dispatched to inspect the damage. Statoil said 326 personnel evacuated, leaving 48 emergency responders onboard to prepare the vessel to be towed to shore.
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