Covid-19: Ineos postpones shutting down UK pipeline until August

UK chemical firm Ineos FPS says it has responded to requests from customers and delayed its planned summer shut down of the Forties pipeline, pipeline, in the North Sea off the east coast of Scotland, in June. The pipeline system has a maximum capacity is 600,000 barrels of oil/day.

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The decision it says has been taken in the face of the growing Covid-19 pandemic and the need to avoid bringing together large numbers of people. The shutdown will not now start before August 2020 at the earliest.

The statement said, “Ineos is also mindful of the benefits of completing this project work to the future operation of FPS and the risks of not going ahead. However, it recognises the importance of maintaining a flow of oil and gas through FPS during the current situation. The company found that there was an overwhelming desire to delay the shutdown by its customers which it is responding to.”

Ineos says it will continue to have discussions with its customers and other stakeholders to define the best dates to plan these projects.