Hibernia Discharge Updates – August 2019
Information about the August 2019 discharge can be found below:
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
(HMDC) has resumed production today at the Hibernia platform, located approximately 315 kilometres offshore the east coast of Newfoundland.
HMDC brought production online following a comprehensive review of its systems and operations and discussions with the regulator, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB).
HMDC’s focus remains on safety and protection of the environment.
Media contact:
Lynn Evans
Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
709.273.1583
Date: August 20, 2019
Time: 4:30 p.m. (Newfoundland time)
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador: Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is continuing response efforts regarding a release of oil and water from the Hibernia platform’s drains system on August 17.
Observations from surveillance flights, satellite imagery, and the vessel surveillance conducted late Monday indicated the sheen concentration had decreased. Satellite imagery today showed no observable sheen. This is attributed to natural weathering and mechanical collection and dispersion efforts. Additional surveillance flights are planned for when weather permits. Demobilization of vessels will commence, with wildlife observation and water sampling continuing.
Production remains shut down. An investigation is ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes available.
Media contact:
Lynn Evans
Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
709.273.1583
Date: August 19, 2019
Time: 3:30 p.m. (Newfoundland time)
St. John’s, Newfoundland: Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is continuing response efforts regarding a release of oil and water from the Hibernia platform’s drains system on August 17.
HMDC’s incident response plan has been activated, and a number of vessels and aircraft are responding. A fixed wing surveillance flight was carried out this morning. Another surveillance flight will take place this afternoon. There are currently four support vessels in the field. Three vessels are in the field using mechanical dispersion and one vessel is using a single vessel side sweep (SVSS) system. Two sheen tracking buoys have been deployed. Satellite imagery is also being used to identify surface oil to support the response.
Independent third-party wildlife observers are observing via helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft and vessels. Personnel trained in water sampling have also been deployed.
HMDC confirms that the platform experienced a temporary loss of power on the evening of August 17 which shut down the compressed air system. With the unavailability of the compressed air system, air pressure declined and resulted in the deluge firefighting system releasing water. This water was collected in the platform’s drains and drains tank. The excess water caused the drains tank to overflow onto the gravity base structure releasing water and oil to the ocean.
There was no fire on the platform. All platform personnel are safe. Power was restored on the platform on August 17. Production remains shut down.
HMDC has notified the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Eastern Canada Response Corporation and other stakeholders.
An investigation is ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes available.
Media contact:
Lynn Evans
Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
709.273.1583
Date: August 18, 2019 (6:30 p.m. Newfoundland time)
- Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) continues to deploy response resources to contain hydrocarbon released August 17.
- Three vessels are using mechanical dispersion and one vessel is using a side sweep system to retrieve it.
- Independent third-party wildlife observers have been in the field, observing via both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. Crew members of supply and standby vessels are trained and able to supplement efforts of independent observers.
- One tracking buoy has been deployed and a second will be deployed this evening.
- Personnel trained in water sampling are being deployed.
Media Contact:
Lynn Evans
HMDC
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil..com
709.273.1583
Date: August 18, 2019 (Newfoundland time)
St. Johns, Newfoundland: Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) is continuing response efforts regarding a release of oil and water from the Hibernia platform’s drains system on August 17.
A surveillance flight was carried out by PAL Airlines this morning, with an independent regulatory observer, and based on their observations of the sheen, the estimate of hydrocarbon released has been updated to 2,200 liters. The volume shared earlier was based on a visual observation from the elevation of the platform, as opposed to aerial surveillance. Another surveillance flight will take place this afternoon and HMDC will share an update based on their observations.
The platform experienced a temporary loss of power on Saturday evening, which resulted in the unavailability of the compressed air system. When there is a drop in pressure, the deluge system, which is designed to extinguish a fire, released water that collected in the platform’s drains. The drains overflowed onto the gravity base structure releasing water and oil to the ocean.
Power has been restored. Production remains shut down. Oil spill response has been activated, and a number of vessels and aircraft are responding.
Wildlife observers are engaged and additional resources are being deployed.
The Canadian Coast Guard and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board have been notified.
Media contact:
Lynn Evans
HMDC
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
709.273.1583
St. John’s, Newfoundland: Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd (HMDC) confirms that the Hibernia platform experienced a temporary loss of power on Saturday evening, which resulted in the activation of deluge (water sprinkler fire-fighting) systems. All personnel are safe and there was no fire on the platform. Power has been restored to the platform. Production is shut in.
Due to the deluge release, the waste containment drain system, which contained water and some oil, along with excess water from the deluge systems, overflowed onto the gravity based structure (GBS) and subsequently into the ocean.
A surveillance flight was carried out by PAL this morning. An estimate of the release will be provided as soon as possible based on that flight information.
The Paul A. Sacuta support vessel has deployed spill response equipment, a single vessel side sweep (SVSS) system. Two additional support vessels are containing the discharge to the immediate area to facilitate maximum recovery of the released fluid.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and Canadian Coast Guard have been notified.
Media contact
Lynn Evans
HMDC
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
709 273 1583