§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he proposes to take to ensure that corrosion by seawater of vital equipment on British offshore production equipment does not lead to loss of life, comparable to the accident which occurred recently in the Ekofisk Field.
§ Mr. John SmithSince 31st August 1975 every installation operating in United Kingdom waters has been required to obtain a valid certificate of fitness from one of five certifying authorities appointed by me. Thorough surveys of every installation and its associated equipment were made by the certifying authorities, both above and below sea level, before issuing a certificate.
Immediately after the Ekofisk accident my Department wrote to companies operating in the North Sea reminding them of the dangers of corrosion, asking them to carry out an additional urgent check of their pipeline risers around sea level, where the danger of corrosion is greatest. The operators were also asked to ensure that all personnel know the correct procedure for launching the survival craft which every United Kingdom installation is required to have.