Equinor has provided a new update on the incident on the unmanned Sleipner B platform in the North Sea, where smoke was detected in the electrical distribution room on 22 October at 04:40 AM. Equinor has immediately halted production and depressurised the platform as part of its safety procedures.
Protection of the Sleipner B platform
During the day, the emergency vessels Skandi Mongstad and Esvagt Bergen have been using seawater to cool the platform remotely. These vessels will remain stationed in the vicinity of the Sleipner B platform until the situation is fully under control. In addition, a SAR helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera is flying over the area to detect any activity or signs of thermal risk.
Equinor has confirmed the detection of gas production on the platform. However, there are no plans for this incident to have any impact on its gas export commitments to potential customers. The platform has remained depressurized and without power since the incident was reported.
So far, no serious damage or risk to human life or health has been reported. Local authorities have been notified and investigations to identify the exact cause of the smoke in the switchgear are ongoing. The company is continuing to closely monitor the situation and will report any relevant developments in the coming days.
The unmanned Sleipner B platform , located 12.5 km from Sleipner A , is part of Equinor’s gas production system in the North Sea. While this incident temporarily affects production at Sleipner B, the company assures that there will be no long-term impacts on the gas supply network.
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Source: Equinor
Photo: Morten Christensen / Equinor