Equinor reports first suspected UK coronavirus case, as Forties shutdown questioned

London — Norway's Equinor said Wednesday it was responding to a suspected case of coronavirus at the UK's Mariner heavy oil field, following a confirmed outbreak at a Norwegian field, as doubts surfaced about plans by the operator of the Forties pipeline to shut down the system for three weeks of maintenance in June.

In a statement, the company said the individual aboard the Mariner A platform was "receiving advice" from the onboard medic and further advice was being sought from the Scottish health authority, Health Protection Scotland. It remained unclear whether or how soon the individual would be evacuated, an issue raised as a concern by one UK trade union, the National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT).

"Our main priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of all people in the Mariner field," Equinor said. "Equinor's isolation procedure has been activated and we have mobilised emergency response support. We are working with the relevant authorities and agencies to assess and respond to the situation."

Earlier, Equinor said it had a confirmed case of coronavirus at its Martin Linge oil and gas production, which is under construction in Norwegian waters, with test results awaited from two other individuals at the same facility. The patient was being kept at Martin Linge in quarantine. Equinor suspended helicopter flights on Monday for the Martin Linge project and the flagship Oseberg field, as well as a rig at the Gullfaks field, due to suspected cases of coronavirus.

So far there has been no effect on oil and gas production as a result of coronavirus and the industry appears determined to maintain production as far as possible.

RMT regional organiser Jake Molloy told S&P Global Platts there had been some initial reluctance among helicopter pilots to evacuate infected workers, but this was deemed essential by Health Protection Scotland to avoid a "cruise ship type scenario," referring to recent outbreaks among holidaymakers on cruise liners.

Molloy questioned plans by pipeline operator Ineos to now go ahead with a major three-week shutdown of the Forties Pipeline System starting June 16, saying thousands of extra workers would be involved, raising significant coronavirus risk.

"I'm not convinced that staging one of the biggest industry shutdowns in a generation is the right time to be having it," Molloy said.

As regards the outbreak in Norway, Equinor said activity levels at the Martin Linge project had been reduced, with all personnel remaining on board.