Just in case there's anybody naove enough to believe that corporations report problems

Record fine for gas leak Source: Birmingham Post Publication date: Feb 12, 2000

A record fine was yesterday imposed on an offshore operator after a large gas leak on one of its platforms went unreported, the Health and Safety Executive said.

BG Exploration and Production was fined pounds 300,000 by Kingston- upon-Hull Crown Court for the incident, which occurred in 1998.

It is the highest fine on an offshore operator, the HSE said.

The prosecution was brought after it emerged that a large volume of natural gas had escaped from a leak in a pipework joint on an offshore platform.

Although no one was hurt, the consequences of a fire or explosion could have been fatal for the 15 personnel working on the platform, the HSE said.

It said an investigation had identified shortcomings in the way the joint had been installed and maintained and, furthermore, BG had failed to report the incident.

Publication date: Feb 12, 2000 ) 2000, NewsReal, Inc.

Link:

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-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 14, 2000