NLIS 6
April 4, 2005
(Natural Resources)
Minister comments
on the release into the sea of synthetic drilling
mud by the �GSF Grand Banks� drill rig and reported to the C-NOPB
Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural
Resources was advised by the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum
Board (C-NOPB) that the drill rig GSF Grand Banks reported the
release into the sea of approximately 4 cubic meters (26 bbls) of a
Synthetic-based Drilling Mud.
The incident occurred April 4, 2005 just before 4:00 a.m.
"Government views the release of any material into the ocean
seriously," said Minister Byrne. "At this stage, I expect the C-NOPB
as the lead agency to complete its review and report back on the
cause of the release and any mitigation measures to be undertaken.
We are actively monitoring the situation and will offer further
comment once the Board has conducted its review."
Upon notification of the incident, the C-NOPB�s Chief Conservation
Officer (CCO) confirmed that drilling operations on the rig were
suspended. Approval from the CCO is required before operations can
resume at the GSF Grand Banks. The GSF Grand Banks is under contract
to Husky Energy in the White Rose field.
The C-NOPB advisory on the matter is available at
www.cnopb.nf.ca or
www.gov.nl.ca
Media Contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications (709) 729-5282
2005 04 04
4:40 p.m.
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