Safety watchdog slaps Eni with Goliat order

With oil production from the Eni-operated Goliat field in the Barents Sea still offline after a shutdown on Friday, Norwegian offshore safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has formally ordered an investigation.

As Offshore Energy Today reported on Monday, because a similar incident happened aboard the Goliat FPSO before, PSA Norway issued a notification of order to Eni to identify and implement necessary measures after the last event to come in compliance with environmental, health and safety legislation.

Also, the safety body has called for a meeting with Eni and Statoil (a partner in the project), whereby the Goliat licensees would present a comprehensive assessment of the proper way forward for Goliat. The PSA Norway is calling for the meeting to be held before the field resumes production.On Wednesday, PSA turned the notification of order into a formal order

On Wednesday, PSA turned the notification of order into a formal order. The difference between a “notification of order” and an “order” is that the order is legally binding.

PSA also told Eni to present a binding schedule with a deadline for implementation of corrective measures and a description of any compensatory measures implemented until all discrepancies are corrected.

The safety authority’s notification of order that preceded today’s order had called for a meeting to be held between the PSA, Eni, and Statoil before the Goliat is put back online. There is no mention of such a meeting in PSA’s order released Wednesday.

When contacted by Offshore Energy Today, a PSA spokesperson said: “A meeting is not necessarily needed. There might be a meeting, but most important is it that Eni presents a binding, time-limited schedule with deadlines for implementing corrective measures following the incident. “

The Goliat field is located in the Barents Sea, 85 kilometers northwest of Hammerfest. The field is supplied with hydro-generated electricity from the mainland by means of a subsea cable.

To remind, Eni informed of the power outage and production shutdown on the Goliat FPSO last Saturday. The company also said there was a partial evacuation of non-essential personnel.

Offshore Energy Today Staff