On May 30, a gangway was in place between the platform and Island Offshore Management’s Island Clipper service operation vessel (SOV) when the vessel suddenly lost the gangway’s hydraulics, and subsequently, its motion-compensation functions.
During normal operations, all activities on the platform are remotely operated and monitored from the central control room on Oseberg A.
However, during maintenance, inspection or well interventions, access to and evacuation from the facility is conducted from an SOV equipped with a motion-compensated gangway and crane.
The gangway also serves as the main means of evacuation from the platform, with the SOV defined as a safe area.
Havtil added that when the platform is manned, the vessel and the facility are deemed a single entity for risk purposes, with Equinor as the lead company responsible for emergency preparedness and coordinating activities.
When the incident occurred, all 18 personnel onboard the platform, which produces oil from the Oseberg Vestflanken 2 Field, were transported by an search-and-rescue helicopter to the Oseberg Field center and from there to a shore base, with no injuries reported.
The platform was also depressurized and shut down.
