Offshore safety watchdog finds room for improvement at Statoil’s Veslefrikk

Norwegian offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has found improvement points during an audit of safety equipment at Veslefrikk field located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

PSA said on Tuesday that an audit of flexible risers and jumpers and associated safety equipment at Statoil-operated Veslefrikk field was conducted from May 24-27.

The objective of the audit was to verify if integrity and barrier management for flexible risers and jumpers and associated equipment such as ESD and pressure relief equipment complied with the company’s requirements and statutory regulations.

While PSA found no non-conformities, improvement points regarding governing documents, and material requirements were found.

Statoil has been informed by the PSA to report on how the improvement points will be dealt with by August 31.

Veslefrikk came on stream in 1989 as the first development off Norway to use a floating production unit. Designated Veslefrikk B, this semi-submersible structure is tied to a fixed steel wellhead platform – Veslefrikk A.

Oil from the field is landed via the pipeline from the Oseberg development to the Sture terminal outside Bergen. Gas travels through the Statpipe system via Kårstø north of Stavanger to Emden in Germany.