INEOS statement on Forties pipeline crack

On 31 October, INEOS acquired the Forties Pipeline System.

Last week INEOS contractors discovered a small crack in the pipe at Red Moss near Netherely.

An Incident Management Team was immediately despatched to the site and remedial work started.

A 300 m cordon was set up, a small number of local residents were advised to leave and the pipe was depressurised whilst a full assessment of the situation was made. 

Following this assessment, a custom reinforced clamp was commissioned which will allow a robust oil and gas tight repair to be made.

Despite the depressurisation, the crack has widened from 106 mm to 155 mm and the Incident Team who are working with NTS have now decided that shutting the pipe for a short period is the safest way forward.

This will allow for additional remedial work to be done whilst reducing the risk of injury to staff and the possibility of oil escaping into the environment.

Up to now, no oil or gas seepage has been detected and the pipe is being closely monitored. 

As always, safety remains INEOS top priority and local residents, FPS users and other stakeholders are all being kept fully informed of the situation as it develops.