Danish and German reconnaissance aircrafts have Tuesday and Wednesday registered oil on the sea surface near the Dan, Halfdan and Kraka fields in the North Sea.

Maersk Oil is investigating the matter at the production facilities, at sea and from the air, but has not immediately been able to identify any irregularities in the operations, which could explain the observations.

“We are working closely together with the relevant authorities, but we have not been able to identify anything unusual in our discharges, which have an oil content clearly below the limits set by the Danish Environmental Agency,” says Franz Willum Sørensen.

As a precautionary measure, Maersk Oil has activated its oil spill contingency plan, including a 1,200 metre floating boom barrier which will be transported about 200 kilometres from Esbjerg to the Dan field in the North Sea. The environmental safeguards are expected to be on location tomorrow.

”Our data does not indicate an oil spill, but we would rather activate our environmental protection measures one time too many,” says Franz Willum Sørensen.

In calm weather conditions like those present today, a very thin oil film, originating from the cleaned production water being discharged in accordance to the Danish Environment Agency’s rules, can appear on the sea surface.

Per one litre cleaned and discharged production water, a maximum of 30 milligram of oil is allowed. Tests and analyses conducted by Maersk Oil do not show that this limit has been exceeded. According to Maersk Oil’s tests and analyses, the cleaned and discharged production water contains between 5 to 16 milligram oil.

”We are currently examining our entire production process to find a possible explanation. A thin oil film does not necessarily mean increased levels of oil in the discharged water,” says Franz Willum Sørensen.

Facts:

As is stated in the Environmental Status Report for 2009, Maersk Oil has reduced its impact in the environment in the Danish North Sea. As an example, the concentration of oil in cleaned and discharged production water has since 2005 been reduced from 19.2 milligram to 13.3 milligram i 2009. (Source: www.maerskoil.com, look under ”Environmental Status Report, Danish Oil and Gas Activities 2009”).

Maersk Oil is currently examining the oil’s characteristics to determine, where it originates from. This analysis is expected to take up to 36 hours.

For further information, please contact Thomas Grøndorf, Head of Communications, Maersk Oil, +45 3363 4089.