Safety regulator investigating lifting incident on Odfjell rig

Norwegian offshore safety regulator has launched an investigation into a lifting incident on one of the Odfjell Drilling-owned rigs, which is currently working for Equinor off Norway.

The investigation has been launched by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) into the lifting incident on the Deepsea Atlantic drilling rig on 8 May 2022.

According to a Tuesday report by the PSA, the rig crane broke down and its wire ran free while hoisting a 32-tonne slip joint from a vessel to the rig. The joint dropped to the deck of the vessel and then into the sea. The drop height still has to be ascertained.

The regulator said that no personal injuries or damage to subsea structures or the vessel had been reported.

Deepsea Atlantic is owned by Odfjell Drilling and the incident occurred on the Statfjord North satellite field in the North Sea, where Equinor is the operator.

The main objectives of the investigation are to identify the causes of the incident and possible lessons to be learnt and to share this information with the industry.

In conducting its investigation, the PSA will clarify the course of events and the scope of the incident, assess the actual and potential consequences of the incident, and assess direct and underlying causes. it will also identify nonconformities and improvement points related to the regulations, apply necessary enforcement powers to correct possible regulatory breaches, make public its findings, and contribute to experience transfer to and learning by other players in the petroleum sector.

The investigation will be summed up in a report published by the regulator.

The 2009-built Deepsea Atlantic rig is a sixth generation deepwater and harsh environment semi-submersible. This unit, along with its sister rigs Deepsea Stavanger and Deepsea Aberdeen, is a dual derrick, dynamic-positioned unit of enhanced GVA 7500 design. All three sister rigs are contracted by Equinor.

According to a recent update from Odfjell Drilling, the Deepsea Aberdeen has started its contract at the Breidablikk field in Norway following the completion of a scope of work including modifications and acceptance testing.