Oseberg H (OSH) is an Equinor-operated, normally unmanned, wellhead platform on the Oseberg field in the North Sea. In its normal operating phase, activities on OSH are remotely operated and monitored from the central control room on Oseberg A.
For maintenance, inspection or well interventions, access to, and evacuation from, OSH is performed from a Service Operation Vessel (SOV) equipped with a motion-compensated gangway and crane. An SOV with a gangway is the primary means of evacuation from OSH. The SOV is also defined as a safe area.
When OSH is manned, the vessel and the facility are considered to be a single entity for risk purposes, with Equinor as the lead company responsible for emergency preparedness and coordination of activities. SOV Island Clipper is operated by Island Offshore Management AS.
Incident on 30 May 2025
During an ongoing maintenance campaign on OSH, the SOV Island Clipper lost the gangway’s hydraulics, with a subsequent loss of its motion-compensation function.
There were 18 people on board OSH at the time. They were carried by SAR helicopter to the Oseberg Field Centre and onward to land. Nobody was injured.
OSH was depressurised and shut down as a result of the incident.
Investigation
Havtil takes a serious view of the incident, and has decided to launch an investigation. An investigation team of our specialists has now started this work.
The main objective of the investigation is to determine the causes of the incident and any lessons to be learned, and share this information with the industry.
In connection with the investigation, we will:
- Carefully review the chain of events.
- Determine and describe the actual and potential consequences of the incident.
- Identify proximate and underlying causes.
- Use necessary sanctions to rectify any regulatory breaches.
- Publish the results of the investigation.
- Contribute to the transfer of experience and lessons learned to other industry participants.
The investigation will be summarised in a report to be published on havtil.no.