Case closed after close call between iceberg and oil platform

Newfoundland and Labrador'soffshore industry regulator is satisfied that all findings from its investigationinto a near miss between an iceberg and an oil platform have been addressed, according to a final report released Wednesday.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Boardreport is about a close call March29, 2017,between an iceberg and Husky Energy's SeaRoseFPSO, when Husky decided, for financial reasons, not to disconnect the structure.

The report released Wednesday also notes Husky leadership did not follow its ice-management plan, which was also incomplete.

"We recognize that we did make that mistake," Trevor Pritchard, Husky Energy's senior vice president for the Atlantic regiontold CBCafter the release of the report.

"You learn your lessons from these things, sometimes the hard way, so it is a lesson that we take seriously."

Production suspended

"The board's expectation is that all operators reduce risks to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable and place the highest priority on worker safety and environmental protection," said today's release.

Production at the SeaRose was suspended in late January as a result, and after that suspension was withdrawn theC-NLOPB released a policy on the public disclosure of incidents with an additional section added to ensure that notices of non-compliance and orders to comply will be posted publicly, the release said.

• SeaRoseshut down after Husky reprimanded for iceberg close call

C-NLOPBchair and CEO Scott Tessieralso shared the board's regulatory oversight and inquiry, as well as information learned from the incident, with the International Regulations Forum during its annual general meeting in June.

Theregulator released a public incident bulletin Mar.30, 2017, and a notice of non-compliance as well as an order to comply with Husky's ice management plan on Apr. 7 that same year. After the submission of a final report from Husky on Apr. 27, 2017, the board launched a formal inquiry into the incident on May 9.

Operations atSeaRosewere then suspended on Jan. 17 of this year, resuming on Jan. 26 when the suspension was withdrawn.

"We've got operational knowledge throughout. So we've got people in the VP position, general manage position, that's supporting the SeaRose now ... We are putting in place a sitting vice president for process occupational safety that actually reports directly to the CEO," Pritchardsaid of the changes being made.

Those changes include clearer definitions of roles and responsibilities, a new threat assessment matrix and a specific emergency response plan for icebergs.

"It's all about the culture of the people, that emanates from the top. This won't happen (again) on my watch," he said.

Production numbers released

The daily production and certified monthly production numbers from Jan.17, 2018, the date Husky was ordered to suspendSeaRoseoperations, to Jan.29, 2018, three days after the suspension was lifted, have been released "in the interest of transparency and the public interest," the release said.

According to that information, production gradually decreased and came to a full stop, which Husky says was in accordance with its suspension plan, and then restarted Jan. 29.

As part of the required regulatoryoversight of production, computer generated metering systems that measure well information are monitored daily, the release said, and monthly certified production reports are available on the board's website.

Read more articles from CBCNewfoundland and Labrador