Statoil rig evacuated, down to safety crew
UPDATE: Statoil reports one worker was killed and two were injured when a big wave slammed into a drilling rig in the Troll field, also in the North Sea.
Statoil and COSL mobilized their emergency response organizations after three people were injured when a heavy wave hit a drilling rig located in the North Sea on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at the COSL semi-submersible drilling rig Innovator at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 30. The rig is under contract to Statoil in the Troll field, west of the southwest Norwegian city of Bergen.
In a press release, Statoil said the rig had been taken off the well due to heavy weather when the injuries occurred. The wave also damaged the rig’s accommodation module.
The victims were flown to land by a helicopter provided by the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre as well as one of Statoil’s SAR helicopters.
Currently, all employees with the exception of the safety crew are being evacuated from the rig and flown ashore.
The company is not reporting the condition of the employees at this time.