Supply Boat Hits Grane Platform

The supply boat, Island Ranger, grazed the Grane platform in the North Sea at 4:30 a.m. on Friday. No one was hurt as a result of the incident.

The incident happened during a routine operation, while the boat moored alongside the platform to load and unload equipment and supplies.

The mishap was caused by a malfunction in the supply boat's automatic positioning system. Weather and sea conditions were good when the incident occurred.

The supply vessel incurred only minor damage, and after unloading supplies at Grane, continued on its way. No significant damage to the Grane platform has been observed.

The incident was routinely reported to the authorities, and the ship owner, Island Offshore Management as, in Ulsteinvik, Norway, which will initiate an investigation. Hydro will take part in the investigation and will also submit its own account of the accident.

The Grane field is an integrated accommodation, process and drilling platform on built on a steel jacket. The platform started production in September 2003. Natural gas is injected into the reservoir to boost oil recovery. The gas is transported to the field from the Heimdal platform, while the oil is sent in a dedicated pipeline to the onshore Sture terminal. The field is located in Block 25/11, approximately 185 km northwest of Stavanger.

License holders are Norsk Hydro as operator with 28%; Petoro with 30%; ExxonMobil with 25.60%; and ConocoPhillips with 6.40%.