Petroleum watchdog concerned about Eni’s Goliat platform
“Eni has revealed a limited ability to implement existing plans,” Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway writes in a notice of order.
Oil production at Goliat – the world’s northernmost operational offshore field – has been closed down since Dec. 26 after the discovery of a technical error with the pipe connection to the platform for loading oil tankers.
On Thursday, Petroleum Safety Authority Norway issued a notice of order to Eni Norge to “reassess current plans, priorities and use of resources to ensure acceptable completion and operation of Goliat.”
“We’re concerned about Eni’s management of operation on the Goliat field, and have now given it notice of an order,” says director general Anne Myhrvold.
She says the notice is built on both individual findings and an overall assessment of the position.
A PSA audit of Eni’s management of the working environment and employee participation on Goliat revealed several serious breaches of the regulations, the agency says.
Myrvold says there’s been a good progress in dialogue between the employees onboard the platform and management.
“At the same time, we see that End has revealed a limited ability to implement existing plans. At the same time, constant new findings are being made and weaknesses identified on the facility, in the management system and in the organization,” Anne Myhrvold says.
The director general of the Petroleum Safety Authority explains concern that a great deal of work related to completion, modifications and simultaneous production remains to be done on Goliat.
“Our order therefore requires Eni to assess its plans and to ensure the necessary capacity and competence for the total volume of work on the field,” she says.
After huge cost overruns and long delays, production at Goliat started in March last year, almost three years behind schedule.
Located in the Barents Sea north of Hammerfest in Norway, Goliat is the world’s northernmost oilfield in production and the only one in the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea. The field holds about 180 million barrels of oil.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic waters off limits to oil & gas activities say Canada-U.S. in joint statement, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finland’s Foreign Trade and Development Minister concerned about Trump’s climate policy, Yle News
Norway: Groundbreaking lawsuit filed against Norway over Arctic oil drilling, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Arctic oil – Russia pushes North as U.S. blocks Alaska leasing, Blog by Mia Bennett
Sweden: Swedes discover new Barents oil and gas, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Obama, Trudeau announce plans to fight Arctic oil and gas pollution; Alaskans criticize lack of input, Alaska Dispatch News
