Covid-19 outbreak hits Shell’s North Sea hub

An outbreak of Covid-19 on the Shell-operated Shearwater field off the UK has forced the oil major to remove dozens of workers from the North Sea hub.

Shell has evacuated 85 workers from its North Sea hub due to the Covid-19 outbreak on the Prosafe-owned Safe Zephyrus flotel, which is providing accommodation services on the Shearwater field. The field is located in the Central North Sea, 225 kilometres east of Aberdeen.

A total of 15 positive cases have been identified so far, with the first one being identified on 30 June. All positive cases have been flown to shore as well as 70 others identified as close contacts. The production from the field has not been impacted.

Offshore Energy has reached out to Shell, seeking further comment.

A Shell spokesperson confirmed the situation and said: “Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our people and contractors, and safe operations across all our activities. We are taking all appropriate precautions, in line with our procedures and national protocols related to coronavirus”.

It is also worth pointing out that this is not the first time for something like this to happen on the Shearwater field. According to a BBC report from 23 April, more than 60 workers were flown from Shearwater to shore, after 4 tested positive on a floating hotel platform next to Shearwater.

Shell has recently revealed it will be increasing its stake in the operated Shearwater field. Namely, according to a Reuters report from late June, Shell exercised its right of first refusal to the stake after BP had agreed in May 2021 to sell its stake to Tailwind. As a result, Shell’s interest in the field will increase to 55.5 per cent.

Prosafe’s Safe Zephyrus flotel was hired by Shell last year to provide accommodation services in support of the Shearwater platform turnaround.

The accommodation rig was initially supposed to mobilize for the 80-day Shearwater contract in 2Q 2020. However, the oil major in March 2020 decided to exercise its 30-day option in the contract and the timing for the rig’s contract start date changed from 1 June to 2 May 2020.

Later on, a decision has been made not to perform the Shearwater project in 2020, bringing Shell and Prosafe back to the discussion table to rethink the contract.

In September 2020, Shell and Prosafe hammered out the final details of the deal, agreeing for the revised firm duration of the contract of 115 days to start in March 2021 with the oil major having the option of adding either 30 or 45 days to the front end.

Furthermore, Shell retained the option to extend the contract after the firm duration by up to 30 days.

Prosafe’s Safe Zephyrus is a DP3 semi-submersible accommodation rig. With beds for 450 persons, in single man cabins, the vessel is designed for worldwide operations in the harshest offshore environments.