BP Holdings
UK
bp holdings, BP Warns of Risk From Helicopter Grounding
PLC warned that an extended grounding of supply helicopters could have a "major impact" on energy operations in the North Sea, as producers attempted to find alternative aircraft and ships to ferry crew and equipment.
More than half the helicopter fleet used to supply oil and gas platforms in British North Sea waters remained grounded Tuesday as operators imposed a voluntary freeze on using Super Puma helicopters, following a fatal crash on Friday. U.K. air-safety authorities continued to investigate the accident off the Shetland Islands coast, which claimed the lives of four oil workers.
Super Pumas, which are made by the Eurocopter unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., EADSY +0.33% continued to fly to platforms in Norway and Australia. EADS shares closed at €43.78 ($58.53) in Paris on Tuesday, down 1.6%.
Offshore operators plan to share the remaining helicopter fleet and suspend routine work. Industry group Oil & Gas UK said the suspension would cause delays and flight backlogs, and could have adverse effects on offshore activities in the North Sea, a major oil-producing region. The area is home to Brent crude oil, the global pricing benchmark.
BP, one of the North Sea's largest operators, said there was no immediate risk to oil production from its fields, which pump 100,000 barrels of oil a day from U.K. fields. But a spokesman said a prolonged suspension of the workhorse Super Pumas could have a "major impact" on offshore activity.
The U.K. company said it was looking to use more Sikorsky S-92 helicopters to support its business in the region.
France's Total SA FP.FR -1.40% said it had chartered four ships to help transport workforce to and from offshore installations.
Royal Dutch Shell RDSA.LN -1.37% PLC said it didn't anticipate significant disruption to its operations as it primarily uses Sikorsky helicopters in the North Sea. Sikorsky is a unit of United Technologies Corp. UTX -0.36%
Brent-crude prices are unlikely to be affected as long as difficulties getting workers to platforms don't affect North Sea productivity, oil traders said. More than 56,000 staff worked offshore in the U.K. section of the North Sea last year. Brent's price rose $3.2% Tuesday, pushed by tens