DNV today announced it has not confirmed that the Yme-platform, located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, is fit for duty as stated in the Norwegian technical newspaper (TU) published October 5th.
DNV’s role is to act as an independent third party and ensure that the Yme platform is completed in compliance with the rules and regulations applicable on the Norwegian continental shelf. Part of DNV’s involvement also includes the verification of scheduled inspections. This will facilitate future decisions on how to solve actual problems on Yme .
To remind, Talisman Energy, operator of Yme field in July evacuated all the workers from the platform due to the discovery of potential cracks in the grouting around the legs of the platform.
As a follow up to the evacuation of the Yme platform , DNV started its theoretical calculations related to the platform’s strength. The results of these calculations have continuously been reported to the owner of the platform, SBM Offshore, and used as part of its input for the required reconditioning. This is still on-going.
“DNV’s task has not been completed and no conclusions have been made yet. Based on this, it is wrong to state that DNV has confirmed that Yme is fit for duty,” said DNV in a press release.
“No conclusions will be drawn until the technical analysis and inspection of critical structural elements have been completed, and all the necessary information on the focused grouting has been obtained. Once this has been done, it is time to conclude whether the Yme platform meets the safety criteria. The necessary class certificates will be issued at the same time,” DNV concluded.
Talisman Energy recently sent a letter to the Norwegian authorities warning that the Yme MOPUstor platform could collapse into the sea this winter.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, October 9, 2012