Maersk Oil and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have received reports indicating that an oil sheen in the Danish North Sea, first spotted two days ago, has been significantly reduced.
Reconnaissance planes recorded an oil sheen on Tuesday evening close to the Maersk Oil operated Dan field and facilities.
“Maersk Oil reacted quickly and fully to reports of the oil sheen, carrying out a number of tests in the seawater and investigation into its Dan facilities,” said Franz Willum Sørensen, Senior Vice President at Maersk Oil.
“We are pleased with the reports that indicate the oil has been significantly reduced. However, as a precautionary measure, we will still deploy a 1,200 metre floating boom barrier until we are sure that there is no oil sheen on the sea surface,” he said.
Maersk Oil had earlier agreed with the EPA to deploy the barrier as part of its investigation into the causes of the oil sheen.
Maersk Oil will continue to investigate why the oil sheen appeared, for example, whether its appearance was the effect of recent calm and sunny weather, in which the visibility of any oil on the sea surface is higher.
Through out the week, regular tests showed that the oil content in the water was below a limit set by the EPA. On Thursday that level was 3-14 milligrams per litre, against a limit of 30 milligrams.
A so-called fingerprint analysis of the seawater was taken also but the samples showed the water contained too small an amount of oil for the test to be conclusive.
Maersk Oil’s detailed investigation carried out by experts sent to the Dan facility on Wednesday did not identify any irregularities in our operations.
On Thursday Maersk Oil has:
- Transported a floating boom barrier 200 kilometres from the Danish West coast to the Dan field.
- Sent out a skimmer boat to the Dan field, travelling along pipeline routes in search of any leaks.
- Taken samples from the surrounding sea water.
- Found that a fingerprint test was unable to determine the oil’s origin because its consistency in the water was so thin.
- Found that the oil content the oil content in the cleaned discharged production water was 3-14 milligrams per litre, below the 30 milligram per litre limit set by the EPA.
- Carried out detailed investigations by experts sent to the facilities on Wednesday and found no irregularities in the operations.
For further information, contact Sabina Zawadzki, Maersk Oil Communications, Maersk Oil, +45 2932 0915.