C-NLOPB Suspends Petroleum-Related Operations Conducted by the SeaRose FPSO
Friday 19 January 2018
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has suspended petroleum-related operations conducted by the SeaRose Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operating pursuant to Husky Oil Operations Limited’s (Husky’s) Operations Authorization (OA) with such operations to be suspended in a safe, controlled and environmentally prudent manner while maintaining the integrity of the installation.
This decision has been made pursuant to subsection 138(5) of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and subsection 134(7) of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act. The SeaRose FPSO is located in the White Rose Field, approximately 350 km east of St. John’s.
This decision relates to an incident on March 29, 2017, when an iceberg entered the 0.25 nautical mile Ice Exclusion Area of the SeaRose FPSO. There were 84 personnel and upwards of 340,000 barrels of crude onboard at that time. In accordance with Husky’s Ice Management Plan (IMP) filed with the C-NLOPB as a requirement of Husky’s OA, the SeaRose FPSO should have disconnected and sailed away from the threatening iceberg. That action was not taken and personnel were at one point instructed to muster and ‘brace for impact’.
Ultimately, the iceberg did not make contact with the SeaRose FPSO or subsea infrastructure. There were no injuries, no environmental damage and no damage to the facility.