News story

Statement on approval of plan to remove oil in Gannet pipeline

Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) approves Shell's plans to pump oil from Gannet pipeline.

From:
Department of Energy & Climate Change and The Rt Hon Edward Davey
Published
16 August 2012
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) has approved Shell UK’s plans to remove oil contained in the Gannet pipeline.
 
The operation will recover the majority of the oil remaining in the carrier pipe, at a water depth of 91m (300ft), following an oil leak from the pipeline that was successfully stopped in August 2011.
 
The flowlines of the carrier pipe will be flushed clean in a secondary operation planned to take place in spring 2013, with any remaining oil also safely removed.
 
The area around the Gannet Field and the subsea flowline has been under observation since the oil leak was stopped and no subsequent release has been detected.   
 
The approval comes in consultation with DECC, Health and Safety Executive, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Marine Scotland.   

 

Published 16 August 2012