Statoil Under Probe After Visund Shutdown

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has decided to investigate a well control incident on the Statoil-operated Visund field which occurred on March 17, 2016.

Visund is an oil field located east of the Snorre field in the northern sector of the North Sea. The development comprises a semi-submersible steel production, drilling and quarters platform (Visund A). Water depth in the area is around 335 metres. The northern part of Visund has been developed using a subsea template, around 10 kilometres north of Visund A.

According to PSA, the incident turned out in connection with a well wash during completion of a drilling operation.

Statoil stopped the production and started evacuating workers after an inflow and pressure increase were registered in the well’s annulus.

Reportedly, the BOP was intact, but problems were reported in operating shutoff valves on the top of the drillstring.

The situation was normalised on March 18, and the incident did not cause any hydrocarbon leaks, the PSA said in a press statement.