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BP has been ordered to take immediate steps to address a number of "serious breaches" of regulations in connection with a fire on its Valhall platform last year, Norway's offshore safety authority said Thursday.
The Petroleum Safety Authority said the July 13 fire involved the breakdown of a crane engine due to overheating, which led to a fire in the vent stack of the platform's compressors. The blaze led to production at the 40,000 barrel a day field shutting down for more than two months.
"Overheating combined with a defective spark arrestor and silencer meant that red-hot particles leaving the exhaust pipe blew across and ignited flammable gases from the vent stack," the regulator said in a statement.
RIGZONE - BP Slammed By Norway Regulator for Valhall Fire
Seeded on Fri Jan 6, 2012 2:47 PM EST
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The findings once again put the U.K. energy giant's record under the spotlight nearly two years after a rig leased by BP exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 men and leading to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. That incident followed a blast at its Texas City Refinery in 2005 that resulted in the deaths of 15 workers. Chief Executive Bob Dudley has sought to put safety at the core of the company's operations since then, but incidents like Valhall risk undermining claims that BP is indeed implementing higher standards.
Action speaks louder than "claims". Tony Hayward's top priority was Safety when he took the top office in 2007. 3 years later the biggest and worst spill in history. Looks like the leopard never change its spots.
- 7 votes
#1 - Fri Jan 6, 2012 2:52 PM ESTYeah, you get violation citation for minor safety lapses (not wearing safety glasses, PPE, boots etc) while the big boys get away with mass murders and multi-million frauds. Imagine charging for ghost personnel or fielding inexperienced unqualified trainees for the price of a senior.
- 7 votes
#4 - Sat Jan 7, 2012 11:30 AM ESTWe only get to hear the wrong-doings when a disaster blows up. See the latest shallow gas blowout on 5 Jan 2012, Northwest of Sweetwater.
- 6 votes
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