BP investigate North Sea oil leak
There's been an oil leak on a North Sea platform. It happened yesterday morning on BP's Clair platform about fifty miles west of Shetland.
There's been an oil leak on a North Sea platform.
It happened yesterday morning on BP's Clair platform about fifty miles west of Shetland.
The leak was stopped after just an hour - but it's not clear how much escaped.
The oil giant has released this statement:
"BP can confirm that a technical issue was reported on its Clair platform at approximately 1000 hours yesterday which resulted in a release of a quantity of oil to sea.
"The Clair platform, which is located 75 kilometres west of Shetland, has been shutdown and the release has been stopped. All personnel have been accounted for and there are no injuries.
"We are investigating the cause of the technical issue and monitoring the situation.
"All relevant authorities have been informed."
UPDATE
We've been given a new statement by the oil giant as they investigate the spill....
"BP can confirm that yesterday at approximately 10 a.m. a quantity of oil in water was released to the sea from the Clair platform as a result of a technical issue with the system designed to separate the mixed production fluids of water, oil and gas.
"The release was stoppe within an hour once the issue had been identified and Clair production was taken offline. We are investigating the cause of the technical issue and the field will remain offline until the investigation is concluded.
"Oil spill and environmental experts from BP, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have been working together to assess any potential environmental impacts and to agree the best way to respond.
"At present, we believe the most appropriate response is to allow the oil to disperse naturally at sea, but contingencies for other action are being prepared.
"Oil has been observed on the sea surface and we are monitoring its movement. Both direct observation and oil spill modelling indicate the oil to be moving in a northerly direction away from land.
"The total oil in water volume that was released has yet to be accurately assessed and work to determine this is ongoing.
"The Clair platform is located 75 kilometres west of the Shetland Islands."