ExxonMobil has notified Canadian authorities about a potentially fatal incident that occurred on May 2 of this year on the Hibernia oil platform, located off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Incidents on the Hibernia Platform

On May 12, a hydrocarbon leak occurred on the platform, which could have led to a fire or explosion with serious consequences.

According to Hibernia Management & Development Company (HMDC), which operates this major oil field, another incident took place on July 18. Approximately two tons of casing pipes were dropped, and one worker was evacuated to shore for medical evaluation.

Casing pipes are elements ranging from 9 to 14 meters in length, which are connected together and installed in a well to prevent collapse and to conduct tests on individual layers.

Sequence of Events on July 18

In the early hours of July 18, a team on deck was preparing 9 5/8-inch diameter casing pipes, each weighing about 950 kg, for transfer to the drilling rig. During lifting with a gantry crane, two pipes detached from the crane’s magnets at a height of two meters above the deck and fell. One of the pipes struck the lower part of a worker’s left leg who was in the area, after which he was evacuated to shore.

Response and Measures

After the incident, work in the affected area was suspended, the western gantry crane on Hibernia was taken out of service, and the crane manufacturer was brought in to inspect the equipment. Following the inspection, regulators reported that no equipment deficiencies were found, and the crane was cleared for further use.

A special safety stand-down was held to discuss the incident and reinforce safety requirements.

Consequences and Investigation

Due to the weight of the object and the height from which it fell, the incident could have resulted in a fatality. HMDC has launched an investigation into the causes of the incident, which is being monitored by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator (CNLOER).