Oil begins flowing again in Brent pipeline

Initial flows of crude oil have resumed in the Brent pipeline system following Monday’s shutdown.

The system, which is operated by Taqa and runs through the Cormorant Alpha platform, was halted after hydrocarbons were detected inside one of the platform’s legs.

The company says the process of restarting the Brent pipeline system followed a thorough technical evaluation and safety assessment.

The Cormorant Alpha platform normally handles about 90,000 barrels per day of crude oil feeding the Brent pipeline system, including approximately 10,000 barrels of Cormorant Alpha production.

Crude oil flows in the Brent pipeline system are expected to rise to approximately 80,000 barrels per day as other platforms in the Brent system return to normal operations.

Cormorant Alpha production remains closed while evaluations and work on the platform leg continues.