BP evacuates North Sea platform over drifting barge collision fears

A spokesman for the oil and gas group told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that workers on the platform could see the barge drifting towards the site, despite the rough weather and poor visibility.

Statoil, a Norwegian company, and COSL – China Oilfield Services Limited – issued a statement saying they had learned “with great sadness” that one person had died and two were injured when a wave broke over a drilling rig Wednesday.

Stormy weather buffeting the North Sea has brought havoc to oilfields with Norway’s Statoil reporting one man dead when a giant wave hit a rig and hundreds of workers evacuated after a huge barge broke its moorings and began drifting. BP has now ordered a complete evacuation of the field after failing to regain control of the barge, which had broken free of its anchor in a storm.

The barge was less than 10 nautical miles from the platform.

“(Rescue boats) are trying to establish a new towing line, and we have a good hope that it can be successful…

The Valhall field is operated by BP and co-owned by USA oil company Hess Corp.

Production from the Eldfish and Embla oil fields has been shut down, ConocoPhillips said.

According to Statoil, the Wednesday incident caused damage to the rig’s accommodation module. The rig was now heading to the Norwegian coast and was expected to reach land on Thursday, the head of COSL’s Norwegian subsidiary said.

Nearly 50 of the rig’s 106 staff were airlifted to safety.