Statoil ASA Shuts Gullfaks A Oil Platform Due to Leak-Reuters

Reuters reported that Statoil ASA has shut oil production at its Gullfaks A oil platform in the North Sea due to a leak in a ballast tanker. Oil from the field is loaded directly into shuttle tankers, while gas is piped to the Kaarstoe gas treatment plant north of Stavanger and then on to continental Europe. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate estimates Gullfaks field production in 2012 to be at 40,000 barrels of oil per day. An ongoing strike by Norway's offshore oil and gas sector workers has trimmed production.