Brent Pipeline Off-Line Due To Incident [Update: Should Be Back On-Line]

Updates

January 17, 2013: Link to Oil & Gas Journal.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) has begun restoring the flow of an estimated 80,000 b/d of crude oil in the Brent pipeline system following a precautionary pipeline shutdown because of a hydrocarbon release into a platform leg on the Cormorant Alpha platform, which remains shutin.

The pipeline system and platform are operated by TAQA Bratani Ltd. Investigations found no connection between the Brent pipeline system and the pipeline involved in the release. The process of restarting Brent throughput follows a technical evaluation determining it is safe, TAQA said.

Oil, by the way, rose about $1.30 today with WTI in the $95 range; Brent in the $111 range.

 

Original Post

Not sure if this is a "big" story or not. It's the first story at Oil & Gas Journal today but I didn't see it elsewhere in the mainstream media. Rigzone says the leak shuts down 10% of UK's oil production.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA) shut down Cormorant Alpha platform in the northern UK North Sea and the Brent System pipeline infrastructure extending through the platform as a precaution following a hydrocarbon release into one platform leg.

There was no hydrocarbon release into the environment, TAQA said. It evacuated 92 noncore personnel following detection of a hydrocarbon release Jan. 15.

Cormorant Alpha platform handles about 90,000 b/d of crude oil feeding the Brent system pipeline, including 10,000 b/d from Cormorant field.

TAQA Bratani Ltd. operates Cormorant Alpha, which is 232 miles from Peterhead, Scotland. The Brent system transports crude oil from more than 20 North Sea fields to an export terminal at Sullom Voe in the Shetlands Islands.

So, we'll see tomorrow if it's mentioned anywhere else.