A North Sea pipeline system servicing up to 27 oil fields has resumed service after a leak had caused a temporary shutdown, its Middle East operator announced on Thursday.
“Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) has begun the process of restoring the flow of an estimated 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in the Brent pipeline system following a precautionary shutdown on Monday,” said a statement.
TAQA had on Tuesday said that hydrocarbons had been detected in one of the legs of the Cormorant Alpha platform, 232 miles (371 kilometres) off the coast of Peterhead, northeastern Scotland.
“There were 159 people on board Cormorant Alpha when the incident was discovered on Monday,” it said on Thursday.
“Ninety-two non-core personnel left the platform and three specialists came aboard to help resolve the incident. All these people are accounted for and safe.”
Industry body Oil and Gas UK said oil transported through the pipeline system represented between five and six percent of Britain’s North Sea oil and gas production.
Cormorant Alpha normally handles about 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, of which 42,600 bpd are produced by TAQA.
North Sea oil pipeline system reopens after leak
