Brent Pipeline System Restarts after 5-Day Shutdown

TAQA Bratani reported late Thursday morning (UK time) that the Brent pipeline system in the UK North Sea has restarted after a temporary shutdown March 2.

The company said that it has begun the process of restoring the flow of an estimated 80,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) into the Brent pipeline system.

The pipeline system, operated by TAQA, was shut down Saturday after what the company described as a "small hydrocarbon release" was detected within one of the Cormorant Alpha platform's legs. Soon afterwards, TAQA removed 71 non-essential personnel from the platform as a precaution.

The leak was the second such incident to involve a particular leg of the Cormorant Alpha platform. In mid-January the Brent Pipeline System was shut down for several days after hydrocarbons were detected in the leg.

But TAQA said Thursday that investigations have found that there is no connection between the pipeline system and the pipeline involved in the release.

Cormorant Alpha usually handles approximately 90,000 bopd, feeding the Brent Pipeline System. According to Oil & Gas UK the fields that use the pipeline system account for around 10 percent of UK production.

A former engineer, Jon is an award-winning editor who has covered the technology, engineering and energy sectors since the mid-1990s. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.

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