PSA Checks Visund’s Flexible Risers

Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway has inspected the integrity and barrier management of flexible risers and associated safety equipment at Statoil-operated Visund field.

The objective of the activity was to follow up on issues linked to flexible risers detected, notably, during investigation of flexible risers at Visund and Njord in 2011, and to verify that integrity and barrier management for flexible risers and associated safety equipment comply with the company’s own and regulatory requirements.

Two non-conformities were identified in connection with process fires and system for emergency shutdown, PSA noted.

In addition, six improvement points were identified in connection with testing of overpressure safety system, emergency preparedness manual, reporting and follow-up of valves in the maintenance system, composite deck gratings in evacuation routes, competence and depressuring of risers.

PSA has given Statoil a deadline of December 08, 2017 to report on how the non-conformities and improvement points will be addressed.

The Visund field is located in the northern part of the North Sea, approximately 22 kilometers northeast of the Gullfaks field and about 140 kilometers west of the Sognefjord outlet.