Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) has concluded the planned reduction of non-core personnel from the Cormorant Alpha platform in the northern UK North Sea following the detection of hydrocarbons in one leg of the platform.
There were 159 people on board when the incident was discovered on January 14. On Tuesday, 92 non-core personnel left the platform and three specialists have come aboard to help resolve the incident. All these people are accounted for and safe.
Hydrocarbon levels inside the platform leg have been continually monitored since the incident was discovered. The hydrocarbons are contained within the leg and none have been released into the environment. Investigations into the exact source of the hydrocarbons are still under way. Measurements within the leg show that the volume released is small.
The platform and all Brent pipeline infrastructure running through Cormorant Alpha were shut down as a precaution immediately following the discovery of the release. Cormorant Alpha handles about 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil feeding the Brent Pipeline system, including approximately 10,000 bpd from the Cormorant field.
TAQA is currently evaluating plans to restore the throughput of an estimated 80,000 bpd in the Brent pipeline, excluding any Cormorant Alpha production. This action would occur after thorough technical assurance has established that it can be undertaken safely and without any increased risk.
Cormorant Alpha is operated by TAQA Bratani Ltd and is located 232 miles from Peterhead, Scotland and 94 miles from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.
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Press Release, January 16, 2013