C-NLOPB following up on Synthetic Based Drilling Fluid Spill

C-NLOPB following up on Synthetic Based Drilling Fluid Spill
 
November 19, 2014
The C-NLOPB is following up on a report by Statoil of an estimated 6,000 litre spill of synthetic based drilling fluid which occurred on November 17, 2014. The spill resulted from a 7cm slit in the hose during transfer from the support vessel Maersk Clipper to the West Hercules drilling rig. Transfer was shut down immediately and the valves onboard were closed. The hose was immediately disconnected and returned to the rig.

The reported volume is calculated on a ‘worst case scenario’ based on the rated capacity of the pump over the duration that the pump was running with 100% losses to sea. The actual volume will be determined in the investigation by Statoil. Canadian Coast Guard was notified. The spill has been recorded on the C-NLOPB’s website under Environment - Spill Statistics, which was updated on November 19, 2014.

Statoil Canada Contact:
Alex Collins
Acting Lead, Communications
Statoil Canada Ltd.
(709) 769-8967 (cell)
acoll@statoil.com
C-NLOPB Contact:
Sean Kelly M.A., APR, FCPRS
Manager of Public Relations
(709) 778-1418
(709) 689-0713 (cell)
skelly@cnlopb.ca

The C-NLOPB was created in 1986 through the Atlantic Accord for the purposes of regulating the oil and gas industry offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. The Board operates at arms-length from governments and reports to both the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Natural Resources. Decisions of the Board, referred to in legislation as ‘Fundamental Decisions’, are referred to government for approval or rejection.

Pursuant to the legislation, the C-NLOPB has four regulatory mandates: Safety, Environmental Protection, Resource Management and Industrial Benefits. The Board regulates exploration licences, significant discovery licences, and production licenses covering an area of 7,365,000 hectares; that is an area of about two-thirds of the size of the island portion of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Board is comprised of seven persons; three appointed by the Federal Government, three appointed by the Provincial Government, and a Chair and CEO that is appointed jointly by the two governments. Board members are: Scott Tessier (Chair and CEO), Ed Williams (Vice-Chair), Ed Drover, Conrad Sullivan, Lidija Cicnjak-Chubbs and Cynthia Hickman.