Drilling fluid spills from rig into ocean
Suncor Energy’s Transocean Barents offshore rig accidentally discharged 28,000 litres of synthetic-based mud (SBM) on Friday.
The mobile offshore drilling unit is in the Terra Nova field, about 350 kilometres from St John’s.
The cause of the unauthorized discharge is under investigation.
Suncor spokesman Paul Newmarch said on Saturday he is unsure how long that investigation will take.
The Canada-newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) sent a series of tweets Saturday morning on Twitter, stating drilling operations will not resume until it is safe to do so and until Suncor has received approval from CNLOPB’S chief conservation officer.
“The root cause of this incident is being investigated, as well as any remedial actions that need to be taken to prevent others from occurring in the future,” said Newmarch.
Newmarch said SBM, which is used in drilling offshore wells, is non-toxic to humans, marine life and wildlife, but Suncor is “closely monitoring for any potential effects offshore.”
Newmarch said there were reports of the spill at about 2 p.m. Friday.
“As soon as we were notified, we responded, mobilized the response team and then the release was stopped.”
He was unable to confirm how many people were working on the drilling unit at the time of the spill, or how much time passed between when the discharge began and when the response team was notified.
The CNLOPB stated on Twitter that the well is safe, there were no injuries to workers, and no seabirds or marine life were “observed in the area.”
The Canadian Coast Guard was also notified.
The board stated it is monitoring Suncor’s investigation and response, and is working on issuing an incident bulletin.
The bulletin was not issued as of The Telegram’s press deadline.