Lethbridge Herald

Husky hopes to reopen SeaRose

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A Canadian oil and gas company says it’s working to reassure regulators that it can resume safe operations, two months after a massive oil spill at one of their offshore oil production sites.

Work at the site of Husky Energy’s SeaRose production vessel has been halted since an estimated 250,000 litres of oil spilled into the ocean on Nov. 16 at the White Rose oilfield, about 350 kilometres off the coast of St. John’s, N.L.

In a release on Friday, Husky said the company could begin flushing and leak testing of the central drill centre as early as this weekend, weather depending.

“This will require us to circulate reservoir fluids including oil, gas and water from the production flowlines back to the SeaRose,” said the release. “The flowlines will be displaced with seawater prior to testing.”

A Husky spokeswoma­n said the company has already conducted “assurance and verificati­on activities” on both the oilfield and the SeaRose, which include inspecting flowlines, drill centres, supporting subsea equipment, and parts of the SeaRose.

Colleen McConnell said this work has been reviewed and validated by Det Norske Verits, Husky’s certifying authority.

“In addition, we have been reviewing and revising certain processes and procedures to incorporat­e lessons learned,” she said in an email.

Husky also said it’s working with the coast guard, the Canada-Newfoundla­nd and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, and other bodies to finalize a plan to recover the flowline connector where the leak originated and plug the open ends of the flowline.

McConnell said the agencies involved held meetings throughout last week to review elements of Husky’s flowline recovery and plugging plan.

“Completing this work is important for us to restore the integrity of the South White Rose Extension system and further reduce environmen­tal risk,” she said, adding that the company will submit an updated plan to the board this week.

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