Equinor shutting down crude oil port after two ships collide

Equinor is shutting down operations at Sture terminal, its tanker port for crude oil in Øygarden, Norway, following a collision between the frigate Helge Ingstad and the tanker TS Sola.

 

Equinor reported the incident at approximately 04.15 local time on the 7th November.

 

In a statement later in the morning, Equinor said that personnel at Sture without emergency tasks will also be evacuated. The shutdown and evacuation are performed as a precautionary measure.

 

The company added it is in a dialogue with Norwegian authorities and has mobilised emergency resources to assist the police and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

 

The Sture terminal in the Municipality of Øygarden in Hordaland receives crude oil from the Oseberg area through the 115 kilometre Oseberg transport system from Oseberg field centre, and crude oil from the Grane field through the 212 kilometre Grane oil pipeline (GOP).

 

The Svalin field was connected via the Grane pipeline in 2014. Crude oil from the Edvard Grieg field has been transported to Sture via GOP since the end of 2015.

 

According to a report from Reuters, seven people were injured in the collision between the frigate Helge Ingstad and the tanker TS Sola. The frigate was taking on water and evacuating its crew of 137 and there were no reports of damage to the oil tanker, Reuters added.

 

Source: Offshore Energy Today