Equinor has initiated a controlled evacuation of 74 personnel from the Statfjord B oil platform in the North Sea following a total power failure on Thursday evening. The company confirmed that the affected workers are being transferred to the nearby Statfjord A and C installations as a precautionary measure to ensure safety while technicians address the electrical outage.
Why was the evacuation necessary?
The decision to move personnel was a safety-first measure after the platform lost power, according to Equinor spokesperson Sissel Rinde. While the platform remained stable, the loss of power necessitated the transfer of non-essential crew to neighboring facilities where power and life-support systems were fully operational. Equinor confirmed to NRK that 137 people were on board the installation when the incident occurred. By moving 74 individuals, the company reduced the load on the facility’s emergency systems.
What is the current status of Statfjord B?
Statfjord B is located approximately 210 kilometers west of Bergen. Following the power outage, the company mobilized emergency resources as a standard protocol for North Sea operations. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated that a search and rescue helicopter was dispatched from Bergen to the vicinity of the platform to provide support if needed. Equinor maintains that the situation is under control and that the evacuation process is proceeding according to established emergency preparedness plans.
How does this compare to standard safety protocols?
In the Norwegian offshore sector, power failures on platforms are treated as critical events requiring immediate risk assessment. Under the regulations set by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, operators must ensure that personnel safety is never compromised by technical failures.
The Statfjord field, operated by Equinor, is one of the oldest and most significant oil and gas assets in the Norwegian North Sea. Unlike newer, automated platforms, the Statfjord installations have undergone various life-extension projects, making the maintenance of electrical infrastructure a priority for the operator to prevent production downtime and ensure worker safety.
Key details of the incident
- Location: Statfjord B, North Sea (210 km west of Bergen).
- Total personnel on board: 137.
- Personnel evacuated: 74.
- Destination: Statfjord A and Statfjord C platforms.
- Current status: Controlled, non-emergency transfer.
Equinor continues to monitor the electrical systems on Statfjord B. Production on the platform is expected to remain suspended until the power supply is fully restored and safety inspections are completed by the technical teams on-site.