Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) confirmed a hydrocarbon release was detected in one of the Cormorant Alpha platform legs in the northern UK North Sea, adding there was no hydrocarbon release into the sea or air.
Consequently, the Cormorant Alpha platform and the Brent System pipeline infrastructure were shut down as a precaution. TAQA also reported a platform and pipeline shutdown in January (OGJ Online, Jan. 16, 2013).
The most recent release, detected on Mar. 2, remained within the platform leg and no hydrocarbons entered the environment,” TAQA said.
Cormorant Alpha platform handles about 90,000 b/d of crude oil feeding the Brent system pipeline, including 10,000 b/d from Cormorant field. The Brent system transports crude oil from more than 20 North Sea fields to an export terminal at Sullom Voe in the Shetlands Islands.
BP PLC operates the Sullom Voe terminal. TAQA Bratani operates the Brent system pipeline.
