North Sea: Storm hits Banff FPSO, CNR halts production

Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) has reportedly shut down production from its Banff field in the North Sea due to a heavy storm. 

The Banff field lies approximately 200 miles east of Aberdeen in the Central North Sea, blocks 22/27a and 29/21.

It is operated by CNR International and produced via the leased Petrojarl Banff floating production storage and offtake vessel (FPSO) owned by Teekay. Crude oil is subsequently stored on the nearby permanently moored shuttle tanker, Apollo Spirit.

According to media reports, the incident happened on Sunday when the FPSO lost tension in two of its anchor lines. The reports say that 44 offshore workers are onboard the vessel.

Offshore Energy Today has reached out to CNR and the owner of the vessel Teekay seeking further info about the incident, but we are yet to receive any response.

The Banff shutdown is yet another one in line of incidents caused recently by heavy storms in the North Sea. Namely, one worker died at the end of the year 2015 when a giant wave hit the COSL Innovator drilling rig, offshore Norway.

The oil major BP was recently forced to evacuate workers from its Valhall platform in the North Sea off Norway after a barge broke loose and started drifting towards BP’s offshore production facility. The weather in the area was harsh, with high winds and waves taller than 10 meters.

Furthermore, the flotel Safe Bristolia also recently experienced problems in the North Sea when its towline snapped due to heavy weather leaving it adrift in the North Sea.

Update:

Canadian Natural Resources International has confirmed the production was shut down on its Banff field in the North Sea on Sunday, January 3, due to a heavy storm that caused the FPSO Banff to lose tension in two of its anchor lines. Read more here: https://bit.ly/1Rd6gkz

Offshore Energy Today Staff