The audit was conducted between 28 May and 3 June 2021, and addressed both Repsol Norge AS (Repsol) as the Yme field’s operator, and Maersk Drilling Norge AS (Maersk) as the owner of the Maersk Inspirer drilling and production facility and the entity responsible for the day-to-day operation of Yme.

When the audit was carried out, the Yme project was in the process of completion.

Objective

The objective of the audit was to assess how Maersk and Repsol ensured compliance with regulatory requirements relating to electrical facilities, work in and operation thereof, safety instrumented systems, technical safety and process safety. We also wanted to examine relevant barrier functions prior to start-up as well as safe work and control of energy in operation. A certain amount of time was also spent reviewing the status and management of the project as well as the impacts of the ongoing pandemic.

Result

Non-conformities were identified within the following systems and areas:

  • Completion and preservation
  • Barrier management
  • Maintenance programme for arc protection and back-up switches
  • Mobile and portable equipment
  • Electrical facilities
  • Electrical safety during completion
  • Weaknesses in safety systems
  • Non-conformity handling
  • Passive fire protection

We also identified improvement points relating to the following systems and areas:

  • Competence management
  • Organisation of monitoring and control function

Follow-up of previous non-conformities

During the audit, we identified one previous non-conformity of Maersk Drilling’s that had not been addressed in line with the company's feedback.

This concerned a non-conformity in respect of “responsible person for the electrical facilities and delegation” from our audit of electrical facilities, technical safety, barrier and maintenance management on Maersk Invincible in 2016.

What happens next?

We have asked Maersk to report on how the non-conformities will be addressed and for their assessment of the improvement points observed.

Repsol as the operator has overarching responsibility for the regulatory compliance of operations at Yme, and we have therefore also requested a response from them.

The reply deadline is set at 6 September 2021.