Husky Energy set to replace connector that caused 2018 offshore oil spill

Canadian oil firm Husky Energy is preparing to install a replacement flowline connector at the White Rose Field.

The work is related to a mid-November 2018 250.000-liter oil spill in the Atlantic which was caused by a failed flowline connector. The release happened when a flowline connector failed near the South White Rose Extension drill center, approximately 350 km east of St. John’s.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) said Friday, July 5, that Husky Energy would use the DOF’s Skandi Vinland vessel to replace the failed flowline connector.

To remind, the incident happened as Husky was working to resume production from the White Rose field on November 16, 2018, which it had shut a day before due to operational safety concerns resulting from severe weather.  The spill, dubbed the largest ever in Newfoundland’s history, occurred during the process of resuming operations.

Husky in March 2019 plugged the flowline and recovered the failed flowline connector, during which approximately 50 liters of residual oil was released from the flowline during operations.

In an update on Friday, July 5, 2019, C-NLOPB said that, during the expected replacement of the failed connector, Husky would deploy remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) monitoring of subsea activities, will have a second vessel with oil spill response equipment at site; and would carry out activities with potential for oil release during daylight hours.

The safety body did not say when exactly the operation would take place.

Also, CNLOPB said it had on July 2, 2019, received Husky’s Interim Investigation Report into the oil spill and said that the report “is currently being reviewed.”

“This matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The C-NLOPB will release its investigation report once available. Further discussions between the C-NLOPB and Husky will be required prior to any regulatory approval for Husky to resume production from the South White Rose Extension and North Amethyst Drill Centres,” CNLOPB said.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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