CNLOPB reports discharge from Searose FPSO

On Thursday, Husky Energy reported that approximately 1,098 litres of an anti-microbial agent known as X-cide 450 were inadvertently released in diluted form from the Searose FPSO earlier in the day.

The Searose is located in the White Rose field, approximately 350 kilometres southeast of St. John’s.

A news release Friday stated that no affected wildlife has been observed. Monitoring from the Searose and the Skandi Vinland continue and the Canada-newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) is in close contact with Husky officials as well as government agencies, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

X-cide 450 (Health Canada Registration Number 26965) is commonly used by the petroleum industry. It contains methanol and glutaraldehyde, an active ingredient that prevents the growth of sulphurreducing bacteria during the injection of seawater into a petroleum reservoir. In this incident, Husky has reported that it was inadvertently released along with 1,916,000 litres of water that were intended for reservoir injection.

No workers were injured, all wells are in a safe state and production operations continue. The CNLOPB is following up on the incident with other agencies, and will review Husky’s determination of causal factors, root causes and learnings to ensure implementation of the required corrective measures. Decisions on possible regulatory enforcement action will follow in due course.