By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 21 -- Statoil ASA shut down production Jan. 19 on Åsgard B gas platform in the Norwegian Sea because of damage to the flare system, the company said. Åsgard B normally produces about 36 million cu m/day of export gas and 125,000 b/d of condensate.
A leak in the flange at the upper end of the feed pipe to the pilot flame caused "abnormal heating of parts of the maintenance deck" below the flare tip, reported platform manager Rune Hansen.
The leak has been plugged and the position "normalized," Hansen said, and production was expected to have resumed by this week as soon as strong winds in the area abated, allowing technicians to inspect the damage and secure some loose equipment.
Repairs will be completed during the regularly scheduled maintenance turnaround planned for September, Statoil said.
During the shutdown, Statoil's gas customers have been receiving "deliveries as specified within the flexible limits built into their contracts," Statoil said.
Separately, Statoil also said normal production has resumed at Glitne field in the North Sea. Bad weather in the North Sea and limited storage capacity on the production and storage vessel Petrojarl 1 were blamed for a production reduction of 10,000 b/d Jan. 15-16. The field has produced 36,000 b/d since Jan.16, Statoil said.
