An investigation into a hydrocarbon leak on 4 December on the Gullfaks B platform operated by Statoil in the North Sea has been launched by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA).

This incident occurred during leak testing in connection with maintenance work with a choke valve on one of the wells.

Derived from a shut-in volume above the downhole safety valve in the well, the gas leak had a high initial rate of 1.2 kilograms per second and lasted for an hour. A serious condition thereby arose on the installation.

The PSA’s investigation team will be travelling to Gullfaks B on the afternoon of Monday 6 December.

One aim of its work is to ascertain the course of events and identify the direct and underlying causes.

Tags: Petroleum Safety Authority