Dorian Damages Equinor's Oil Storage Terminal

Equinor ASA’s South Riding Point oil storage terminal was damaged as Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc in the Bahamas, the Norwegian energy company said Thursday.

“Our initial aerial assessment of the South Riding Point facility has found that the terminal has sustained damage and oil has been observed on the ground outside of the onshore tanks,” Equinor said in a company statement.

While they said it’s too early to indicate any volumes, there are no current observations of any oil spill at sea.

Equinor had 54 personnel at Grand Bahama at the time of Dorian’s arrival. The company said they worked at the South Riding Point oil storage terminal until the precautionary shutdown at noon on Saturday. Equinor said no personnel was on the terminal when the hurricane hit, and the company has since made contact with all of them and they are confirmed safe.

“Equinor has mobilized oil spill response resources and they will arrive at South Riding Point as soon as possible. We are now working to establish a better overview of the situation, and on mounting a safe and timely response to the situation,” the company said.

Equinor said it’s communicated its initial assessment to local authorities and will continue that communication. More updates will be provided once they gain access to the terminal area.

Hurricane Dorian first made landfall Sunday in the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm.

Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s petroleum products terminal – also located in the Bahamas – sustained no significant damage in the storm, the company said Wednesday.

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