Husky Energy says that it is ready to fully resume production at its White Rose offshore drilling platform after an oil spill shut down the operation in November, 2018.
In a press release, the Calgary-based company says that after an extensive investigation, flow line repairs, integrity testing and approval of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), it will resume production from the remaining two drill centres shut in following the spill.
During the first half of this year, operations at three other White Rose drill centres were resumed.
“We regret the spill last year,” said CEO Rob Peabody. “As a result of our investigation, we’ve enhanced our startup procedures, strengthened equipment and added more barriers to prevent failures.”
Peabody added “The lessons learned have also been shared broadly through the industry to try to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Husky says that following the startup of the North Amethyst and South White Rose Extension drill centres, production at the White Rose facility should hit approximately 20,000 barrels per day (b/d).
According to Husky, a failed flowline connector near the South White Rose Extension drill centre caused the spill. In June 2019, a replacement flowline connector with a higher load capacity was installed at the South White Rose Extension drill centre.
Flowline connectors are designed to release under specified tension in the event of iceberg activity. Other production flowlines with similar connectors have also been enhanced to withstand a higher load capacity.
Husky says it has identified and implemented several process safety initiatives and has also added additional oversight around critical activities and the process of restarting production. Husky Energy has submitted an investigation report to the C-NLOPB.
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