Norwegian state firm Statoil has been forced to stop production in Norne oil field in the Norwegian Sea, after an independent report showed the field's production ship had inadequate oil spill clean-up equipment.
Statoil's shutdown of Block 6608/10 Norne field, where production has recently averaged 100,000 b/d of oil, was expected to last 2 weeks.
The operator ceased production after an early February report by the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority showed that the high viscosity of Norne oil would render the ship's skimmers ineffective.
Statoil said tests showed Norne's oil solidified so quickly that it would push deployed equipment clear of the sea surface. The operator then started trials of an alternative type of skimmer.
A Statoil official said, "This came as a surprise to us and to specialists. Although the risk of spills is minimal, we opted to take an environmentally responsible approach and suspend production.
"Norne will probably resume production within a couple of weeks, when we will have tested and secured approval for an alternative skimmer type."
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