Fairfield takes action to stem North Sea Osprey leak

July 17, 2012
A hydrocarbon sheen has developed close to the Osprey field subsea manifold in the UK northern North Sea, causing production to be shut down.

Offshore staff

STAINES, UK – A hydrocarbon sheen has developed close to the Osprey field subsea manifold in the UK northern North Sea, causing production to be shut down.

Operator Fairfield Energy says an ROV survey has identified the source of the subsea leak. The company is mobilizing a diving support vessel to implement repairs, isolating the affected subsea structure, and allowing production from the Osprey field to restart safely.

Small quantities of oil are being released intermittently from the manifold, although these are dispersing in the prevailing weather conditions. Fairfield is in contact with the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Osprey is a multi-well subsea development tied back to the Fairfield-owned Dunlin Alpha installation, 195 km (121 mi) northeast of Shetland.

7/17/2012