HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc471-3W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what electrical works were carried out in module 9 and its associated switch room prior to the resumption of production on the Montrose platform on 14 February; whether that work was complete prior to production commencing; whether transit blanks were fitted in the tracks of the electrical cables; and whether the cable tracks in module 9 had been closed;

(2) what work permits were issued on 14 February in respect of electrical work in module 9 and switchroom of the Montrose platform; and what procedures were in force for co-ordinating all work permits;

(3) whether the differential pressure switch was commissioned in the module 9 switchroom at the time of a reported gas leak on the Montrose production platform, on 14 February;

(4) whether the differential pressure switch was overridden at any time on 14 February in the switchroom associated with module 9 on the Montrose production platform.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Module 9 was surveyed by the certifying authority some three weeks before 14 February. Following this survey power supplies to the heater were changed, work was undertaken on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and instrument cables were installed. This work was completed prior to 14 February. Transit blocks were fitted in the tracks of the electrical cables and were closed at the time of the survey. The certifying authority's survey found that the differential pressure switch required to be replaced. This had not been done by 14 February. The pressurised system for module 9 had however been commissioned. The differential pressure switch was not overridden at any time on 14 February.

No work permits were issued on Montrose on 14 February. All existing construction and hot work permits were withdrawn at 3.20 am on 14 February.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what requirements his Department or the appropriate certifying authority has made in respect of differential pressures in the switching rooms associated with the Montrose production platform.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The fourth edition of my Department's guidance notes on the design, construction and certification of offshore installations, to be published shortly, states that a minimum positive pressure differential of 50 pascals should be maintained in safe working areas adjacent to hazardous areas on offshore installations. The certifying authority for the Montrose platform has confirmed that the pressure differential in switching rooms adjacent to hazardous areas on the platform meets this requirement.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what standards of fireproofing apply in the case of the accommodation module on the Montrose production platform; and how these differ from his most recently issued guidance notes and existing regulations.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 require that every part of an installation shall be composed of materials which, so far as is consistent with its function, shall be incombustible. The accommodation module on the Montrose Alpha installation includes materials which are not incombustible and the external boundaries of the module will not meet the hydrocarbon class of fire resistance recommended in the fourth edition of my Department's guidance notes on the design, construction and certification of offshore installations, to be published shortly. Arrangements are in hand for the accommodation module to be replaced by a new module which will meet these requirements. Pending completion of this work, my Department has required that additional safety measures are put in place.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he will take to ensure that working and operational practices on the Montrose platform are safe before he allows oil and gas production to be recommenced on the Montrose field and to start up on the Arbroath field.

Mr. Peter Morrison

My safety directorate will take whatever steps are necessary to satisfy itself that the required safety standards are achieved. In particular my inspectors have required the operator to institute an immediate programme of instructing all platform personnel on work permit procedures. As soon as this has been completed, an audit will be carried out to confirm that the procedures are being adhered to.