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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Cormorant Alpha leak shuts down up to 27 UK oil fields | Cormorant Alpha leak shuts down up to 27 UK oil fields |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A pipeline system servicing up to 27 oil fields has been shut down after a leak on the Cormorant Alpha platform, north-east of Shetland. | A pipeline system servicing up to 27 oil fields has been shut down after a leak on the Cormorant Alpha platform, north-east of Shetland. |
| The fields affected, and another eight associated platforms, produce about 10% of the UK's oil output. | |
| Hydrocarbons were detected inside a leg of the Cormorant Alpha platform. | Hydrocarbons were detected inside a leg of the Cormorant Alpha platform. |
| Its operator, Taqa Bratani, has removed non-essential workers as a precaution and said the leak had been contained. | Its operator, Taqa Bratani, has removed non-essential workers as a precaution and said the leak had been contained. |
| Shutting down the platform affects the whole Brent pipeline system. | |
| The oil leak at Cormorant Alpha was discovered on Monday and non-essential crew were taken off the installation by helicopter. | The oil leak at Cormorant Alpha was discovered on Monday and non-essential crew were taken off the installation by helicopter. |
| Taqa, also known as Abu Dhabi National Energy, said nothing had leaked into the sea and a technical team was investigating the source. | Taqa, also known as Abu Dhabi National Energy, said nothing had leaked into the sea and a technical team was investigating the source. |
| The BBC understands the rest of the Brent pipeline system can no longer operate because Cormorant Alpha, which is situated some 94 miles from Lerwick in Shetland, is a crucial pumping station. | The BBC understands the rest of the Brent pipeline system can no longer operate because Cormorant Alpha, which is situated some 94 miles from Lerwick in Shetland, is a crucial pumping station. |
| Eight other platforms have shut down with up to 27 North Sea fields affected. | Eight other platforms have shut down with up to 27 North Sea fields affected. |
| The Dunlin, Thistle, Northern Producer, Murchison, North Alwyn, Tern, Eider and North Cormorant platforms are also affected. | The Dunlin, Thistle, Northern Producer, Murchison, North Alwyn, Tern, Eider and North Cormorant platforms are also affected. |
| Oil and Gas UK - the offshore industry body - said oil transported through the Brent pipeline system represented 10% of the UK's North Sea oil production. | |
| Marker price | Marker price |
| The amount of output affected is 90,000 barrels per day. | The amount of output affected is 90,000 barrels per day. |
| It is not yet known what potential impact the shut down could have on petrol station prices. | It is not yet known what potential impact the shut down could have on petrol station prices. |
| However Prof Alex Kemp, an oil economist at the University of Aberdeen, said the closure would have a limited impact on oil prices. | However Prof Alex Kemp, an oil economist at the University of Aberdeen, said the closure would have a limited impact on oil prices. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What we have is an incident which impacts on the Brent pricing system which is used as a marker price for a lot of the world's production. | He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What we have is an incident which impacts on the Brent pricing system which is used as a marker price for a lot of the world's production. |
| "If it continues one would expect a limited affect on the Brent price. | "If it continues one would expect a limited affect on the Brent price. |
| "But the Brent price doesn't just depend on Brent production, it depends on production from a lot of other fields. | "But the Brent price doesn't just depend on Brent production, it depends on production from a lot of other fields. |
| "The effect should be limited because although the Brent price is the marker for a huge volume of oil in the world market, Brent production constitutes not all that big a proportion of the total." | "The effect should be limited because although the Brent price is the marker for a huge volume of oil in the world market, Brent production constitutes not all that big a proportion of the total." |
| Safely re-opened | |
| Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: "The Scottish government, including Marine Scotland, are monitoring this situation closely. | |
| "No release of hydrocarbons has been reported and all non-essential staff on the platform have been safely removed. | |
| "The Health and Safety Executive are investigating and will determine when the pipeline system can be opened again subject to any relevant safety measures being put in place." | |
| He said the loss "does not impact security of supply at this time". |