HC Deb 17 May 1989 vol 153 cc192-3W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to whether the process pipework and vessels on the Piper Alpha platform were originally designed to comply with requirements of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers MR 01 75 standard for handling sour oil and gas;

(2) if he is aware of any occasions in the United Kingdom continental shelf of premature failure of platform piping or vessels due to cracking induced by sour oil or gas;

(3) what information he has as to whether during production from the Piper Alpha platform any sections of piping or vessels handled oil or gas which would be designated as sour by the NACE standard;

(4) whether the operator of the Piper Alpha platform at any time informed the certifying authority of the handling of sour oil and gas and agreed a suitable programme of non-destructive testing to determine the suitability of the piping and vessels to handle sour oil and gas.

Mr. Peter Morrison

My Department has not received any reports of premature failure of offshore installation piping or vessels in the UKCS due to cracking induced by sour oil or gas. The bulk of the Piper Alpha installation was designed before the NACE MR 0175 standard was published. However, all installations are required to have a certificate of fitness issued by a certifying authority. The CA must ascertain, inter alia, that the materials employed are suitable for handling the products involved.

I am advised that, from 1986, the levels of hydrogen sulphide produced from some of the Piper Alpha wells was increasing, and that the NACE standard would now designate some of the oil and gas on the platform as "sour". The owner is required to provide sufficient information to the CA for an independent assessment of the design to be carried out and for a periodic survey of the equipment to be undertaken.

My Department understands from the CA that Occidental discussed with it a corrosion monitoring system, including non-destructive testing, which was designed to assess the suitability of the piping and vessels to handle the oil and gas involved, including the expected levels of hydrogen sulphide. Only when the CA is satisfied that it is proper to do so will it issue or renew a certificate of fitness.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received a report on the causes of the recent explosion on the Cormorant Alpha platform; if he will make it his policy to publish any such report; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The investigation into the cause of this incident is still in progress. As the hon. Member knows, and for reasons I have already explained, it would not be in accordance with our normal practice to publish the report on the findings of the investigation. I shall ensure that any lessons to be learned will be passed on to the industry at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has concerning the recommencement of production on(a) the Cormorant Alpha platform and (b) the Brent pipeline system.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The latest information that my Department has from Shell indicates that the company believes there is a reasonable probability that start up of the Brent pipeline system will be achieved by 26 May 1989. Shell does not expect that the Cormorant Alpha platform will resume production before July 1989.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain and place copies of the daily transcript of the inquiry into the Piper Alpha tragedy in the Library.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The transcript is already accessible to the hon. Member at a number of locations, including my offices at Millbank, but I am happy to assist him further by placing a copy in the Library.