Incident Disclosure 2019

C-NLOPB approves resumption of production operations at Hibernia Platform

August 15, 2019

Earlier today the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) issued approval to Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) to resume production operations at the Hibernia platform.

Since the spill occurred in mid-July, C-NLOPB staff have had extensive engagement with HMDC to discuss the cause of the spill, along with a range of corrective measures to ensure production operations can resume safely and without further recurrence.

The C-NLOPB is undertaking special oversight of the resumption of production operations, including continued discussions with HMDC regarding learnings and status updates.

The C-NLOPB has received and reviewed HMDC’s Preliminary Investigation Report regarding the incident. HMDC has determined that the oil and water interface layer (oil and water emulsion mixture) in the storage cell was the cause. HMDC has removed the current interface layer from the storage cell and is revising its interface management procedures to protect against future possible recurrence. These revised procedures include revisions to minimum water heights in the cells and only producing into cells without residual interface.

The independent Certifying Authority, Lloyd’s Register, has also reviewed and approved the plan to resume production operations.

HMDC will be following a staged return to production operations and will take the time necessary to reach full production in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

The C-NLOPB reiterates its thanks to staff at Environment and Climate Change Canada and its Canadian Wildlife Service, the Canadian Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans Canada for their ongoing, excellent support.

The C-NLOPB investigation into the mid-July spill is ongoing. Any decisions with respect to enforcement action will be informed by the C-NLOPB’s investigation.

Media Contacts:

HMDC
Lynn Evans
Public Affairs Advisor
709-273-1583
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com

C-NLOPB
Tim Murphy
C-NLOPB Communications
(709) 778-1418
tmurphy@cnlopb.ca


Incident Disclosures 2019

DateUpdate
Dec 30, 2019Injured Worker on Terra Nova FPSO
Nov 25, 2019Helicopter Return to Base
Oct 15, 2019Near Miss on Terra Nova FPSO
Oct 3, 2019C-NLOPB approves resumption of drilling operations on Transocean Barents
Sep 26, 2019Approval of plans to resume operations at Hibernia and update on follow up to recent offshore incidents
Sep 9, 2019Injured Worker on Transocean Barents
Aug 21, 2019C-NLOPB Update on August 17, 2019 Discharge at the Hibernia Platform
Aug 18, 2019August 17, 2019 Discharge at the Hibernia Platform
Aug 16, 2019C-NLOPB approves re-start of production operations from final two drill centres at White Rose field
Aug 15, 2019C-NLOPB approves resumption of production operations at Hibernia Platform
Aug 1, 2019Update – Hibernia Oil Spill
Jul 18, 2019Hibernia Oil Spill
Jul 9, 2019Incident Bulletin – Near Miss with Potential for Fatality on Terra Nova FPSO
Jul 5, 2019Update – Follow-up to November 2018 Oil Spill at White Rose Field
Jun 4, 2019Near Miss on Hibernia Platform
May 24, 2019Flushing – South White Rose Extension Drill Centre
Mar 19, 2019Update on Plugging of Flowline and Recovery of Flowline Connector at the South White Rose Extension Drill Centre
Mar 14, 2019Near Miss Onboard Terra Nova FPSO
Mar 13, 2019Update on Plugging of Flowline and Recovery of Flowline Connector at the South White Rose Extension Drill Centre
Jan 30, 2019C-NLOPB Issues Approvals to Husky Energy
Jan 18, 2019Update – Status of Spill at White Rose Field
Jan 11, 2019Update – Status of Spill at White Rose Field
Jan 7, 2019Update – Status of Spill at White Rose Field