Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Nov. 26 -- Production of 80,000 b/d of oil has been suspended from the Vityaz complex off northeastern Sakhalin Island because of turbulent weather, Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. (SEIC) said Nov. 26. It also has stopped using the Okha floating storage and offtake vessel.
"While preparing to reconnect the Okha over this weekend it became apparent that the single-anchor leg mooring (SALM) buoy at the Vityaz complex has suffered damage. The cause of the damage is being investigated," SEIC added. "Oil spill response and other vessels are at the scene to avoid the chance of further release of oil."
A company spokesman told OGJ it would be impossible to predict when the weather would become calm. He added that SEIC estimates that less than 10 l. of oil had escaped into the sea because of damage to the SALM. "Before [the investigation] is concluded, it is hard to say when it will be repaired."
Oil production from Vityaz is usually shut in from mid-December until early May or June because of ice.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
