Petroleum Safety Authority investigates incident on Deepsea Atlantic

May 12, 2022

An investigation has been launched by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) into a lifting incident on the Deepsea Atlantic mobile facility on 8 May 2022.

Handling, cranes and lifting

While hoisting a 32-tonne slip joint from a vessel to Deepsea Atlantic, the rig crane broke down and its wire ran free. The joint dropped to the deck of the vessel and then into the sea. The drop height still has to be ascertained.

No personal injuries or damage to subsea structures or the vessel have been reported.

Deepsea Atlantic is owned by Odfjell Drilling. The incident occurred on the Statfjord North satellite field in the North Sea, where Equinor is the operator.

Investigation

The PSA has decided to launch its own investigation of this incident. The main objectives are to identify the causes of the incident and possible lessons to be learnt, and to share this information with the industry.

In conducting its investigation, the PSA will

clarify the course of events and the scope of the incident
assess the actual and potential consequences of the incident
assess direct and underlying causes
identify nonconformities and improvement points related to the regulations
apply necessary enforcement powers to correct possible regulatory breaches
make public its findings
contribute to experience transfer to and learning by other players in the petroleum sector.

The investigation will be summed up in report published at psa.no.