Offshore staff
OSLO -- Production on the Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea has been shut down and the platform staff is being temporarily reduced until the lifeboat systems have been tested and found to be functional, according to StatoilHydro.
"A defect has been discovered in the release mechanisms of the new lifeboat type installed on the Kristin platform," says Eileen Buan, head of operations on the Kristin field. "We are therefore carrying out a controlled production shutdown and reducing the platform staff as quickly and safely as possible."
StatoilHydro's gas customers will not be affected by the shutdown.
The staff will be reduced from around 90 to 16 people, which is an absolute minimum level, and safety around the platform will be enhanced. This situation will be maintained until the tests have been run and the lifeboats are found to be functional. The test equipment is underway to the platform and the tests will be carried out as soon as possible, the company says.
01/08/2009
