Norway: Offshore safety watchdog investigating first fatal incident since 2009

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has decided to investigate a fatal incident that occurred on the COSL Pioneer drilling rig at the Troll field on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, when one person was killed and two others injured.

As previously reported, a big wave hit the living quarters of the COSL Innovator drilling unit during the afternoon of 30 December, causing the death of one person and injuring two others. The unit, owned by COSL, and working on Statoil-operated Troll field, was disconnected from the well at the time because of bad weather.

The Petroleum Authority Norway mobilized its emergency response center during the day to follow up the incident.

“Representing the first fatal accident in the petroleum industry on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since 2009, this incident is taken very seriously by the PSA. The goals of its investigation include clarifying the course of events, assessing the actual and potential consequences, and identifying the direct and underlying causes,“ the Petroleum Safety Authority said.