Shell’s Shearwater to be Shut-In for Weeks
A spokesman for oil giant Shell has advised today that its Shearwater platform may be shut-in for weeks as it tries to resolve an on-going issue with the HPHT well.
Shell was forced to shut down production earlier this month after an alarm was triggered during driling activities on the 2nd of December. The decision was made to evacuate all non-essential personnel as a result of the incident.
Shell has advised the installation may remain shut in for several weeks as the organisation attempts to rectify the problem. A shell spokesman confirmed that remedial work in planned for next week.
The Shearwater is located about 140 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.
Shell released the following statement:
“Shell UK can confirm that production on our Shearwater platform was shut down on the evening of Friday 2nd December as a precaution due to an alarm being triggered during work on a new well. There have been no injuries to any personnel and no loss of containment.
“The coastguard and the Health and Safety Executive were informed and the situation is being closely monitored. A precautionary downman took place on the 3rd December returning 62 non-essential personnel safely to Aberdeen.
“We can confirm that remedial work is planned to commence at the Shearwater field later this week. The work, which is weather dependent, is expected to last for a number of weeks prior to production recommencing on the Shearwater platform which is located in the central North Sea, approximately 140 miles east of Aberdeen.”
