‘Unsuitable design’ blamed for gas release at Shell’s Penguins facility

Keith J Smith/Alamy

HSE serve improvement notice on oil and gas giant for North Sea plant failings, with industry experts calling on Shell to share the findings of their investigation

OIL AND GAS giant Shell has been ordered to improve the design of its newest facility in the North Sea following a gas release in April.

UK regulator the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served an improvement notice to Shell in May, following an unintentional gas release at the Penguins floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) in the northern North Sea. No injuries were reported following the gas release, and production was stopped immediately. Shell estimated 95.3 kg of gas was released, which HSE’s notice reported was a result of “unsuitable plant design”.