NLIS 4
April 7, 2005
(Natural Resources)
The following is being distributed
at the request of the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board:
Precautionary plans
for offshore demobilization
The US Department of
Defense plans to launch a Titan IV rocket early in the morning of
Monday, April 11, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Debris from the
launch, a 10-tonne rocket silo, will land in a Launch Hazard Area,
which contains the Hibernia platform.
The Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has met with the
three operators of the installations and drilling rigs. The
production operators HMDC and Petro-Canada informed the board of
their plans to remove personnel, offload crude inventory and shut-in
production over the weekend as a precautionary measure as debris
from a rocket launch may fall within 15 nautical miles of the
Hibernia platform. The drilling rig GSF Grand Banks will be towed
out of the potential hazard zone.
HMDC, Petro-Canada and Husky personnel are jointly planning the
logistics for personnel movement. The operators have advised their
personnel and removal will begin with non-essential workers today at
the Hibernia GBS.
"These actions are precautionary," explained acting chair and CEO,
Fred Way. "While actual contact with one of the installations is a
low probability, it would have devastating consequences if it
happened. The companies are acting prudently and working diligently
to minimize the risk to people and the environment."
In a letter to each of the operators, the board today confirmed each
company�s plans to minimize the risk to personnel and protect the
environment. The board�s Safety Department will continue to work
closely with the operators and other relevant agencies to ensure all
potential risks are kept to a minimum.
In the meantime, discussions between various levels of government
continue in an effort to delay the launch or change the rocket�s
planned trajectory.
Media contact: Simone Keough, Communications, (709) 778-1418
2005 04 07 4:35 p.m. |