Equinor addresses hurricane-damaged terminal in Bahamas

Sept. 9, 2019
Equinor continues the work with resources from the Bahamas, the US, and Norway to respond to the effects of Hurricane Dorian on the South Riding Point terminal on Grand Bahama Island and the oil spill at the terminal site and nearby.

Equinor continues the work with resources from the Bahamas, the US, and Norway to respond to the effects of Hurricane Dorian on the South Riding Point terminal on Grand Bahama Island and the oil spill at the terminal site and nearby.

Equinor reported Sept. 5 an initial aerial assessment of the facility found damage to the terminal and oil on the ground outside of the onshore tanks. A Sept. 9 press statement said the size of the spill was not yet known, but an update Sept. 9 said the company had no indications of ongoing leaks from the tanks and no indications of oil stemming from its terminal on nearby beaches or in the ocean.

Efforts are being made to address the terminal site, structures, and surrounding areas, including nature and wildlife. A team of oil-spill response tactical experts is on site and are preparing necessary work. Security personnel also are on site to ensure the safety of the site and people.

Equinor has secured vessels and equipment for oil-spill response. The equipment mobilized, for use both onshore and offshore, includes skimmers, oil-containment booms, absorbents, pumps, pressure washers, and boats. Two vessels are enroute from Louisiana with 43 oil-spill response personnel and clean-up equipment. The vessels are expected to arrive within a few days. Additional oil spill personnel and equipment is being mobilized in Florida and could arrive within 2 days, and efforts are being made to secure equipment available in the Bahamas.

Currently some 225 Equinor employees are involved in the response, in addition to external personnel and resources.

At the time of arrival of the hurricane, Equinor had 54 personnel at Grand Bahama. They worked at the South Riding Point oil storage terminal up until the precautionary shutdown on Aug. 31. None of Equinor’s personnel were at the terminal when the hurricane took place, and all have since been reported safe.

The South Riding Point storage and transshipment terminal has a storage capacity of 6.75 million bbl of crude and condensate. At the time the hurricane hit, 1.8 million bbl were stored in three tanks. The other tanks had residual oil. The South Riding Point terminal has a total of 10 tanks. Nine of these had roofs, and five of those are gone due to the storm’s impact.