Oil Flows Through Brent Pipeline. Cormorant Alpha Rig Remains Shut (UK)

January 18, 2013

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) has confirmed that initial flows of crude oil have resumed in the Brent pipeline system following a precautionary shutdown on Monday.

The pipeline system, which is operated by TAQA and runs through the Cormorant Alpha platform, was halted after hydrocarbons were detected inside one of the platform’s legs. The process of restarting the Brent pipeline system followed a thorough technical evaluation and safety assessment.

The Cormorant Alpha platform normally handles about 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil feeding the Brent pipeline system, including approximately 10,000 bpd of Cormorant Alpha production. Crude oil flows in the Brent pipeline system are expected to rise to approximately 80,000 bpd as other platforms in the Brent system return to normal operations.

Cormorant Alpha production remains closed while evaluations and work on the platform leg continues. The hydrocarbons released are fully contained within the Cormorant Alpha platform leg, and there has been no leak to the external environment. Work so far has mitigated the release and plans are being assessed for the repair of the affected line, which is not connected to the Brent pipeline system.

There were 159 people on board Cormorant Alpha when the release was discovered on Monday. On Tuesday, 92 non-core personnel left the platform and three specialists came aboard to help resolve the incident. All these people are accounted for and safe.

Cormorant Alpha is operated by TAQA Bratani Ltd and is located 232 miles from Peterhead, Scotland and 94 miles from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.

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January 18, 2013