PHMSA OKs restart of Anna platform

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has approved Hilcorp Alaska’s plan to restart oil production from the Anna platform in the Cook Inlet. In an April 27 letter to Hilcorp, Chris Hoidal, PHMSA’a western region director, said that his agency had reviewed a restart request from Hilcorp, together with supporting documentation, and had decided to approve Hilcorp’s plan.

Hilcorp had shut down the platform following the appearance of some spilled oil on the sea surface after people on the platform had felt a jolt to the platform’s structure. Initially the company suspected a leak in the subsea oil pipeline that runs between the Bruce and Anna platforms - the company shut in the Anna platform and the subsea pipeline, and displaced oil in the pipeline with seawater.

However, pressure testing of the line and a subsequent inspection of the pipeline by divers showed that the line was in fact intact. An investigation determined that the spilled oil had come from the Anna platform’s fuel gas flare system during a repair to the system. Ice floating in Cook Inlet had hit the platform and caused the jolt, which had no connection with the oil spill.

Hilcorp has said that it has taken corrective measures to prevent another oil spill during operations on the flaring system.

- ALAN BAILEY