Oil and Gas News
Perenco Receives Safety Notices Over North Sea Platform Condition
Oil and gas company Perenco has received three safety improvement notices from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to the state of its Southern North Sea platform, specifically the Leman 27E installation. The HSE warnings highlight concerns about the condition of a redundant crane on the platform, which has not been properly maintained and poses a potential risk to people and process equipment. Perenco is also alleged to have failed to identify or implement mitigation to prevent potential accidents and lacks a time-bound maintenance plan. Another concern raised by the HSE is the poor condition of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system on the platform.
Perenco's regulatory assessment of the Leman 27E platform, conducted in 2000, is considered outdated given the platform's numerous changes since then. The HSE warns that this failure to conduct a recent review could lead to major accidents involving fire, explosion, or the need for evacuation, escape, or rescue. This is not the first time Perenco has faced scrutiny from HSE inspectors; it has previously been warned about leaks on another platform and slapped on the wrist over decommissioning issues.
Perenco operates around 10% of the entire North Sea well stock, overseeing more than 200 permanently producing wells across 40 gas fields. The company has recently secured a license for carbon storage in the Leman field, contributing to the Poseidon carbon capture and storage project with an operational target of 2029.