HC Deb 31 October 1988 vol 139 c477W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the precise nature of the fault which led to his Department instructing seven jack-up rigs to be taken to dry dock for inspection;

(2) which organisation is the certifying authority in respect of each of the seven jack-up rigs instructed by his Department to be taken to dry dock for inspection;

(3) if, in respect of each of the seven installations instructed by his Department to be taken to dry dock for inspection, he will specify the nature of any repairs which were necessary;

(4) whether, in respect of his Department's instructions that seven jack-up rigs be taken to dry dock for inspection, it is his intention to issue any guidance or directions to the industry in relation to any general matter or specific items of equipment utilised on these installations.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Following the discovery in June of unexplained cracking in the lower leg sections and load bearing supports for the bottom of the legs of several jack-up drilling installations my inspectors instructed owners to undertake a dry dock inspection of the seven CFEM 2005C and CFEM 2600 type installations.

Det Norske Veritas is the certifying authority for five of these installations and Offshore Certification Bureau for the other two.

Inspection of four of the seven installations has been completed; a further one is currently being inspected and arrangements have been made for the inspection of the remaining two. The precise nature of necessary repairs is a matter between the certifying authorities and the owners of the installations. However, two of the installations have been found to have severe cracking and two have minor cracks. The method for treating severe cracking is for the cracks to be ground out deeply, or gouged out using electric arc/air methods and then repaired by weld filling. Minor or shallow cracking is ground out to eliminate all signs of defect. Any repairs undertaken will be supported by non-destructive testing techniques and by heat treatment and must be completed to the satisfaction of the relevant certifying authority.

The Department has already published guidance to the industry on corrosion protection and hydrogen attack. Nevertheless, my officials intend to issue a safety notice impressing upon operators the need for vigilance in this area.