Improvement points found during Snorre B audit

Norwegian offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has found two improvement points during an audit of drilling and emergency preparedness on Snorre B platform off Norway. 

Snorre is an Equinor-operated oil field in the Tampen area of the North Sea, around 150 kilometers west of Florø.

The field has been developed using two floating integrated production platforms, Snorre A and B, and one subsea template tied back to Snorre A.

The safety body said on Thursday that the audit was conducted from August 13 to 17, 2018.

The objective of the audit was to verify robust planning and execution of drilling and well activities and safe operation, including the technical condition of well control equipment at Snorre B.

The safety watchdog also verified that processes were established to ensure compliance with the preconditions, limitations, and recommendations in the emergency preparedness analysis for Snorre B and that these are communicated out to the emergency preparedness organization.

The audit did not identify any non-conformities but found two improvement points in connection with training and practicing of stripping the drill string through the BOP. The other improvement point is regarding a system for verifying and monitoring each blowout team member’s training and competence in respect of the loss of well control.

Equinor was told to report on how the improvement points will be addressed by September 19, 2018.