Plugging of Flowline and Recovery of Flowline Connector

For the past several weeks, C-NLOPB staff, along with officials from partner agencies, have been reviewing and discussing with Husky Energy various draft plans submitted for plugging of the flowline and recovery of the failed flowline connector at the South White Rose Extension Drill Centre.  On January 28, Husky’s finalized plan was approved by the C-NLOPB. This approval was issued following review by the Environmental Emergencies Science Table chaired by staff of the National Environmental Emergencies Centre of Environment and Climate Change Canada on January 25.

The priority of the C-NLOPB has always been to ensure that Husky’s plan can be carried out safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner. The approved plan has the  following mitigations:

• Operations are to be conducted during daylight hours and during specific weather conditions that include reduced sea states;

• Two Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are to be deployed for work and observation purposes;

• Aerial and vessel based surveillance are to be in place, prior to the start of operations;

• Tier 1 Oil Spill Response capability is to be deployed and in place for immediate emergency response, in the event there is a release of oil during plugging and recovery operations;

• Wildlife surveillance is to be in place, including qualified wildlife observers (for both birds and marine mammals) onboard each vessel authorized for the operation;

• A C-NLOPB Conservation Officer, along with staff from the Canadian Coast Guard and the Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC), are to be onboard authorized vessels to observe operations; and

• C-NLOPB staff will also be attending Husky’s onshore monitoring of the recovery operation.

The C-NLOPB continues its investigation into the mid-November incident.

Resumption of Production – Central Drill Centre

Flushing and leak testing of the flowlines in the Central Drill Centre (CDC) was successfully completed between January 17-20, following verification by the Certifying Authority. On January 29, the
C-NLOPB approved resumption of production operations from the CDC only, starting on January 30.  As part of the C-NLOPB’s approval, Husky is to ensure that certain key elements of resuming production take place during daylight hours.

The CDC is on an independent loop to the SeaRose and does not feature the same type of flowline connector as the South White Rose Extension (SWRX) Drill Centre.  It is not affected by the situation at the SWRX, where the mid-November spill occurred.

Husky will be making senior staff available to brief media on its plugging and retrieval plan, and its CDC production re-start procedure.

Media Contact:

Husky Energy
Colleen McConnell
Husky Energy Communications
(709) 724-3504
Colleen.McConnell@huskyenergy.com

C-NLOPB
Lesley Rideout
Communications Lead
c. 709-725-2900
lrideout@cnlopb.ca

Incident Disclosures 2019