Notices served

Notice 310407791 served against Ithaca Oil and Gas Limited on 14/02/2020
Notice Type	Improvement Notice
Description	that during my offshore inspection of the Alba FSU between 14 January 2020 and 16 January 2020, you have failed to demonstrate that you have taken appropriate measures to prevent formation of a flammable atmosphere within the cargo tanks or associated pipework thereby exposing the personnel onboard to the risk of serious personal injury or death from fire and explosion in that (1) it could not be confirmed that the cargo tanks are maintained at a positive pressure to prevent ingress of oxygen into the tanks in order to prevent the formation of flammable atmosphere within the tanks. The document SARA 117394 requires the FSU to be operated with the cargo tanks under positive pressure above atmosphere to mitigate the risks associated with low pressure continuous venting of the cargo tanks. Continuous venting has been identified as a requirement to avoid high H2S gas concentrations on the deck; (2) there were no records available to confirm the minimum cargo loading rate to maintain positive pressure inside the tanks with the mast riser vent open. The flow meter onboard the FSU was not operational to confirm continuous import of cargo from Alba North Platform. (3) piping on the open hazardous drains system has integrity issues thus providing potential routes for oxygen ingress into the tanks through the drain pipe. The integrity inspection by TRAC (Report No. ALBA FSU/2018/32, dated 25/11/2019) confirmed that the non-return valve (CCV-674) on the drain pipe connected to the cargo tanks was passing, and leaked during cargo recirculation within tanks. A 9mm hole on the same pipe has been found and currenlty fixed with temporary repairs. ORM 154658 indicates the isolation valve on the same drain line is seized open; and (4) no records of routine oxygen reading were available to confirm oxygen deficient atmosphere within the cargo tanks
Compliance Date	14/08/2020	Revised Compliance Date
Result	Complied with
Breaches involved in this Notice

Location of Offence
Address	Alba FSU/Ithaca Oil and Gas Li Offshore . Scotland	Region	Scotland
		Local Authority	Aberdeen City UA
		Industry	Extractive and utility supply industries
		Main Activity	06100 - EXTRACTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM
		Type of Location	Offshore Safety Directive Regulator
HSE Details
HSE Group	EDU4S3	HSE Directorate	Energy Division
HSE Area		HSE Division	Scotland