Ineos plans to complete Forties repairs around Christmas

Ineos is planning to complete the repair works on the Forties pipeline system around Christmas, following recent controlled shutdown over a hairline crack. 

The Forties pipeline, which carries the UK North Sea oil to the shore for processing, has been closed since Monday, December 11.

As previously reported, Ineos continues to make steady progress towards the repair of the Forties Pipeline.

Ineos said on Thursday, December 21 that, based on current estimates, the repair works will be completed around Christmas.

As work on the pipeline continues, Ineos has initiated the planning phase necessary to begin recommissioning the system, including the Kinneil facility, as soon as the pipeline repair is complete.

Initially a small number of customers will send oil and gas through the pipeline at low rates as part of a coordinated plan that allows Ineos to carefully control the flow into the system.

The company also added that, based on current estimates, it expects to bring the pipeline progressively back to normal rates early in the new year.