The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Inquiry launched after pair hurt in North Sea rig fire
Injured duo flown to hospital after accident
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after two people were flown to hospital following a fire on a North Sea oil rig.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last night confirmed it had been made aware of the incident on EnQuest’s Heather Alpha platform and were “investigating the circumstances”.
The fire broke out when the rig – which lies about 245 miles north-east of Aberdeen – was shut down for “pre-planned” maintenance.
Shetland Coastguard said two workers had been flown to hospital in Lerwick. They have both since been released.
A spokesman for EnQuest said: “The fire was quickly extinguished and the platform made safe.
“EnQuest is liaising with all relevant authorities as part of its response to the incident, and a detailed investigation into the cause is being undertaken.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating after a fire involving oil broke out on a North Sea platform.
Two workers on board EnQuest’s Heather Alpha platform were flown to hospital after the “small fire” broke out at about 11am on Monday.
Shetland coastguard confirmed the two were taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.
Both have since been released.
Last night, an HSE spokesman confirmed the body had been “made aware of the incident” and was “investigating the circumstances”.
EnQuest, which has a base in Aberdeen, said a “small fire” had broken out on the platform, which lies about 245 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
A spokesman said: “The fire was quickly extinguished and the platform made safe.
“Both injured persons were released from hospital on Monday having been airlifted onshore for medical assessment.
“The platform – which was already shut down for pre-planned maintenance reasons and remains shut down – had 128 personnel on board, all of whom were accounted for.
“EnQuest is liaising with all relevant authorities as part of its response to the incident, and a detailed investigation into the cause is being undertaken.”
Last year, the company was served with an improvement notice by the HSE following an emergency shutdown was initiated after the presence of gas was discovered by three gas detectors.
Inspectors found gas from an unlit flare accumulated on the Heather Alpha and warned workers had been exposed to a “risk of fire and explosion”.
They said EnQuest had not taken sufficient preventative measures.
The incident on the Heather Alpha is the second North Sea fire this week.
On Monday, a “small fire” also broke out on the Taqa-operated Tern Alpha installation, 105 miles north-east of Shetland, at around 2pm.
A crew member on board suffered an arm injury and was also airlifted to the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
“A detailed investigation into the cause is being undertaken”