ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Oil production has been suspended on the Terra Nova Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel over fire safety concerns.
According to a news release the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) issued Thursday afternoon, production-related operations are suspended until Suncor Energy addresses compliance issues. The C-NLOPB’s chief safety officer Paul Alexander is taking specific issue with the availability of redundant fire water pump systems onboard the FPSO. This relates to the apparent failure of a gearbox on Nov. 7.
The officer determined the company failed to maintain and fully inspect equipment vital to the safe operation of the FPSO. According to the release, Suncor has also failed to ensure timely repairs are dealt with and that mitigation measures effectively minimize hazards. These shortfalls ultimately meant Suncor was not in compliance with regulatory requirements outlined in the Atlantic Accord Implementation Acts.
“Production-related operations are to be suspended in a safe, controlled and environmentally prudent manner while maintaining the integrity of the installation,” the release stated.
According to a letter from Alexander addressed to Josée Tremblay, Suncor Energy vice-president for operations along the east coast of Canada, this was an area of concern throughout 2015 and again in October of this year.
One of two fire water pumps will undergo repairs until April of next year, according to the same letter. It also noted the sea water lift pump is “not a regulatory fire water pump,” leaving the FPSO’s current redundant fire pump system configuration non-compliant with regulatory requirements.
“In conclusion, the C-NLOPB considers that the failure in Suncor’s management system to detect the above non-compliances and the decision to continue to operate the FPSO production systems with those non-compliances to amount to a serious safety matter,” Alexander wrote.
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