Danger on an OMV Petrom platform in the Black Sea
February 29 - OMV Petrom's Platform 7 in the Black Sea shows a high degree of corrosion and wear.
Photos provided by an anonymous source from Platform 7 in the Black Sea reveal that it is in an advanced state of disrepair. The photos show that the pillars are badly damaged, with cracks and extensive corroded surfaces.
“Overall the photos indicate that protective layers have been corroded and are impacting the wall thickness of the structure. The wall thickness of jackets and caissons (deep water foundation structures) are designed to withstand the dynamic loads from waves, currents, and the weight of the platform. If wall thickness is compromised by corrosion, the structures could pose a threat of disintegrating the rig with the result of an inherent risk to an environmental disaster and occupational work safety integrity.” said Surya Jaikaran, Energy Analyst at Greenpeace International with a master's degree in mechanical engineering and 9 years of experience in large oil and gas companies.
"How can OMV Petrom safely implement the new Neptun Deep operation when their existing platforms look like this? OMV says it has the highest safety standards in the industry but underestimates and ignores the negative impact of a potential accident on this rig. We demand immediate explanations from the authorities responsible for approving and supervising this platform, which poses a danger to the safety of personnel, habitats and species in the Black Sea and Danube Delta" said Alin Tanase, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Romania.
Greenpeace Romania has sent complaints and addresses to the Competent Authority for the Regulation of Offshore Oil Operations (ACROPO), the Dobrogea Litoral Water Basin Administration (ABADL), the National Agency for Protected Natural Areas, the Environmental Protection Agency of Constanta and the Environmental Guard of Constanta, in order to verify on site how such a marine platform complies with safety standards, given the pronounced degradation, as evidenced by photographs.
Greenpeace Romania has also asked OMV Petrom for a point of view but has not received a response so far.
The environmental organization launched a petition to protect the Black Sea and challenged the permits for the Neptun Deep project in court in February 2024. In addition, 76 scientists from Austria joined the environmental organization's efforts and called on OMV to stop the Neptun Deep project.
Contact:
Surya Jaikaran, Energy Analyst, Greenpeace International, +31634202653, surya.jaikaran@greenpeace.org
Alin Tanase, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Romania, +40724210014, alin.tanase@greenpeace.org
Mihnea Matache, PR Specialist, Greenpeace Romania, +40749135749, mihnea.matache@greenpeace.org
Note to editors
Link to photo drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zPT8mOZsmUxaKM1sjJ5TXeo4YLa0SHgy