Hydrocarbon leak prompts Cormorant A evacuation

Safety alert: Workers taken off Cormorant Alpha

Taqa Bratani

Rob Watts

 15 January 2013 11:11 GMT

A major evacuation of workers is under way from Taqa Bratani’s Cormorant Alpha platform in the UK northern North Sea following a leak involving oil and gas, Upstream can reveal.

Hydrocarbons were detected in one of the platform’s concrete legs at 4.15pm UK time on Monday.

It is understood that the main release of hydrocarbons into the platform leg involves crude oil but that associated gas from that crude has activated gas detector alarms.

The volumes of oil and gas involved are not yet known as the situation is understood to be ongoing.

Production and all associated pipeline infrastructure have been shut in, Taqa said on Tuesday morning.

“Since the discovery, hydrocarbon levels have been continually monitored,” Taqa said.

A total of 159 people are on board.…

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