Statfjord B approved by the NPD

Nowegian Petroleum Museum

A new design for Statfjord B was approved by the Norwegian authorities after the original concept had been rejected on safety grounds.

— Statfjord B info sheet

This platform became the first in the world to be built on the basis of a preceding safety analysis, and helped to shape the basis for Norway’s subsequent offshore regulations.

Its topside was divided into three zones. The living quarters with cabins, offices and so forth were placed at one end, the process area in the middle, and drilling and well activities on the other side – as far as possible from the quarters section.

Security for the latter was also improved, with a fire wall rated to withstand a blaze for six hours between it and the process facilities. This would provide time for evacuation in the event of a possible fire or explosion.

Approved by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) in a letter of 19 December 1977, the design was based on an integrated topside with a production capacity of 180 000 barrels per day. The adjusted construction schedule called for the platform to be towed out in the summer of 1981 – two years after the original date.

Sources
Engeland, Sveinung. Ingeniørfabrikk på norsk: oppbygginga av norsk petroleumsrelatert engineeringkompetanse . Oslo 1995, p 73.
Rolstadås, Asbjørn. Prosjektstyring . Oslo 1981, p 61.