NORWAY LIFTS THREAT TO SHUT DOWN EKOFISK FIELD

Norway has called off its move to shut down the Phillips Petroleum Co. Norway group's big Ekofisk oil field in the North Sea by winter 1995-96 because of safety concerns. But the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) insisted that Phillips bring forward its submission of long term solutions by 2 months to July 1, 1993 (OGJ, Nov. 9, p. 29).

Nov. 30, 1992

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Norway has called off its move to shut down the Phillips Petroleum Co. Norway group's big Ekofisk oil field in the North Sea by winter 1995-96 because of safety concerns.

But the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) insisted that Phillips bring forward its submission of long term solutions by 2 months to July 1, 1993 (OGJ, Nov. 9, p. 29).

In an order issued to Phillips Nov. 18, NPD said Ekofisk licensees shared its evaluation of the safety risks on the 2/4T processing and storage tank. They had not refuted NPD's view that continuing modifications will prove inadequate to ensure sound operation.

NPD decided to defer its evaluation of the date of permanent shutdown because the decision will reflect development of risk levels on the installation.

"The nature, scope, and effects of the temporary risk reducing measures will be of decisive importance in this connection," NPD said. "NPD has on several occasions stressed that it is a matter of urgency to implement measures that can substantially improve personnel safety, the environment, and economic assets."

NPD accepted Phillips' proposal to submit by early next year a plan for binding, temporary measures for sound operation of the tank.

LONG TERM MEASURES

A major part of the long term solution will be removal of process machinery on the tank. Licensees said it may be justifiable to retain transportation facilities on 2/4T and move only the process plant. NPD said this requires further evaluation.

The Ekofisk partners said long term measures can be realized in 1997, but NPD stressed that a solution must be implemented as soon as possible.

"Based on the present knowledge of risk developments on 2/4T, NPD has to say it is skeptical that safe operations can be sustained on the installation up to that point."

The NPD order said:

Until permanent shutdown of 2/4T, risk reducing measures must be implemented without undue delay.
Phillips must submit a binding plan for temporary measures by Feb. 1, 1993.
The plan must be followed by status reports on implementation of measures and development of risk levels.

If subsidence reaches a point at which a theoretical 100 year wave could spill over the barrier around the tank, licensees must shut down production.

"The alternative is to demonstrate that 2/4T complies with the requirements in the safety regulations for meeting this type of environmental load," NPD said.

"The processing and transport activities on 2/4T will be subject to special shutdown order if any other conditions on 2/4T make this necessary."

The field partners were given 3 weeks from receipt of the order to lodge an appeal. Phillips has no plans to appeal and accepted the NPD's conditions, although it is concerned that moving up the deadline could reduce the possibility of finding the best long term solutions.