Suncor gets safety order after incident on Terra Nova FPSO

Canadian offshore regulator, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), has informed that Suncor Energy has been given a safety order following an investigation of an incident on the Terra Nova FPSO.

C-NLOPB said on Wednesday that the chief safety officer (CSO) issued an order to Suncor to ensure a fall protection system was used for all vertical ladders greater than six meters in length that were not fitted with a protective cage at or near the Terra Nova FPSO.

The order follows the C-NLOPB’s review of Suncor’s investigation report into the December 29, 2019, incident that resulted in an injured worker on the Terra Nova FPSO. Suncor’s investigation report was received by the C-NLOPB on January 12, 2020. It is worth reminding that the worker was injured after falling from a ladder while conducting gas testing.

C-NLOPB added that the review of this matter continues, including a follow up offshore by safety officers currently onboard the Terra Nova FPSO.

Production-related operations on the Terra Nova FPSO were previously suspended and the suspension will continue until the regulatory non-compliance identified by the CSO in the notice to suspend issued on December 19 has been addressed.

Terra Nova incidents in 2019

Apart from the incident in December, Suncor had three other reported near-miss incidents on the Terra Nova FPSO. The first one happened in March 2019 when a grease drum dropped from a lifting basket, coming to rest on an enclosure below.

In June 2019, an offshore worker aboard the FPSO offshore Canada was exposed to hazardous contents of a slop tank, while last October, another near-miss incident happened while workers on the Terra Nova FPSO were completing a lift using an air hoist that travels on a trolley assembly through the lower turret to the roof of the Quick Connect DisConnect (QCDC) room.

Following the completion of the lift and while preparing to store the air hoist and trolley assembly, a sling failed, and the trolley assembly weighing approximately 200 kg fell approximately 34 meters onto an enclosure below.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

Spotted a typo? Have something more to add to the story? Maybe a nice photo? Contact our editorial team via email.

Also, if you’re interested in showcasing your company, product or technology on Offshore Energy Today, please contact us via our advertising form where you can also see our media kit.