Oil pipe crack could halt flow into 2018
A CRACK in the Forties pipeline which carries 40 per cent of North Sea oil and gas ashore could see the system shut down into 2018.
New owners Ineos last night revealed that a hairline fracture in the 3ft-wide pipe has widened to 6ins since it was uncovered last week.
More than 80 North Sea platforms will have to turn off the taps until the pipeline is repaired and oil will be shipped in from overseas.
Ineos spokesman Richard Longden said the closure “could be for several weeks”.
He added: “The main impact is going to be to Ineos, to our customers and the Treasury.
“We expect we’ll be able to get alternative sources of crude oil for fuels and the impact on gas will be quite low. In terms of alternative sources of crude, that’s possible into Grangemouth and into the UK, and likewise for natural gas and LPG.
“There will be some impact on those North Sea platforms that use the Forties system. They will use this time to implement maintenance and will obviously not be able to send oil down the pipe until we’ve got it back on line.”
Deirdre Michie, chief executive of industry body Oil & Gas UK, said: “We have been in touch with Ineos and are closely monitoring the situation and hope this can be resolved safely and as quickly as possible.”