Investigation identifies safety deficiencies at OKEA's North Sea Brage Field

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway — Havtil (the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority) has asked OKEA to respond to the findings of an investigation into a workplace accident last November at the Brage Field in the North Sea.

During a planned six-monthly valve test, a needle valve detached from the top cover of a valve tree, striking a crew member in the face. The needle valve was under a pressure of 80 bar, with the impact causing a serious facial injury.

In different circumstances, the outcome could have been fatal, the inquiry found.

The well had been left without a plug in its top cover for several hours, with gas observed above the valve tree. The needle valve detaching was caused by corrosion of the lowermost threaded part of the valve housing.

Havtil identified seven breaches of regulations, including a lack of verifications to demonstrate compliance with the HSE regulations; inadequate maintenance and overview of technical integrity; and inadequate emergency management training and drills.

The team also pinpointed inadequate recording of exposure to hydrocarbons.

OKEA must now assess whether the Annual Audit Plan for Brage is sufficient to comply with the HSE regulations.

The company must also explain why platform internal verification activities were not implemented according to plans; obtain an overview of the technical state of the needle valves on the valve trees and ensure that routines are in place for monitoring and maintaining them; and identify and correct inadequacies in the governance documents and management system for work connected with pressurized systems.

06.03.2024