Norway’s Statoil informed that this morning (October 8) there was a report that oil had been observed in the sea close to the OLS B loading buoy at the Statfjord field.

The oil spill was discovered during the loading of oil from the Statfjord A platform to the tanker “Hilda Knutsen” via the OLS B loading buoy, which is located between Statfjord A and Statfjord B.

According to Statoil, loading to the tanker has stopped and supply to the pipe and loading system from Statfjord A has been closed. Production at Statfjord A is operating normally.

The leak is located in a flange in the loading hose. It is also too early to say how much oil has leaked.

Statoil said that a stand-by vessel with oil spill response equipment and the anchor handling vessel, equipped with a ROV, are at the location. A SAR helicopter is also assisting with monitoring the spill.

The relevant authorities have been notified.

Statoil update: October 8 3:15 p.m.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the spill is within the range of 40 cubic metres of oil.

Further assessment and investigations will uncover the scope and causes in more detail.

Update: October 9, 2015

PSA has decided to initiate an investigation of this incident.