Incident Disclosure 2019

Update on Plugging of Flowline and Recovery of Flowline Connector at the South White Rose Extension Drill Centre

March 13, 2019

On January 28, Husky Energy’s plan for plugging of the flowline and recovery of the failed flowline connector at the South White Rose Extension Drill Centre was approved by the C-NLOPB. As indicated in the C-NLOPB’s public update on January 30, this approval was issued following review by Board staff and the Environmental Emergencies Science Table chaired by the National Environmental Emergencies Centre (NEEC) of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

There is a possible window for implementing the plan beginning on Friday, March 15. As Husky, the C-NLOPB and its partner agencies continue to monitor forecasted conditions offshore in anticipation of that possibility, assets and personnel are being mobilized to site. A decision on whether the operation will go ahead is expected on Thursday, March 14.

The priority of the C-NLOPB and partner agencies has always been to ensure that Husky can execute its plan safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. As the lead government agency, the C-NLOPB will monitor Husky’s execution of the approved plan, in close cooperation and consultation with the NEEC, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

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, with CCG and Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC) observers onboard, prior to the start of operations;
  • Tier 1 Oil Spill Response capability is to be in place for immediate emergency response, in the event there is a release of oil during plugging and recovery operations;
  • Wildlife surveillance by qualified wildlife observers (for birds and marine mammals) is to be in place onboard each vessel authorized for the operation, and will be in regular contact with the CWS;
  • A C-NLOPB Conservation Officer along with staff from the CCG and the ECRC are to be onboard authorized vessels to observe operations; and
  • C-NLOPB staff will also be observing Husky’s onshore monitoring of the recovery operation.

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

We will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.

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

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