On 31 December 2024, the floating production facility Njord A in the Norwegian Sea released an estimated 75 m³ of oil into the sea. The operator, Equinor ASA, reported the incident, and the regulator Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil) launched a full investigation. The report published on 20 November 2025 provides details of what happened, why it happened and the consequences.
What the Njord A rig is and how the spill happened
Njord A sits about 130 km west of Kristiansund in the Norwegian Sea, in approximately 330 m water depth. The field was discovered in 1986 and production began in 1997. The facility contains drilling and processing equipment and connects to storage and export infrastructure.
According to Havtil’s investigation, the oil spilled via the produced-water treatment system. Specifically, a level control valve on the water outlet of the 1st-stage separator was left in manual-fixed mode following persistent instability in the separator interface. The system then let oil bypass the water treatment and discharge into the sea for 2 hours and 20 minutes before operators stopped it. The total volume is estimated at about 75 m³.
The incident’s trigger: the interface between oil and water in the separator became unstable, the level gauge read incorrectly high, the safety shutdown did not activate, and oil entered the produced-water discharge line. An operator noticed an unusual odour, inspected the deck, then identified oil on the sea surface. The discharge was stopped within nine minutes of detection.
Havtil found that the emergency shut-off barrier failed because the level transmitter was mis-calibrated, the control valve manual mode remained locked, and no secondary barrier existed. In effect, a chain of weak barriers produced a real spill.
Consequences and improvement directives
The direct consequence: oil entered Norwegian waters and deposits of waxy oil clumps washed ashore between Frøya and Møre og Romsdal during the first months of 2025. Equinor’s own internal report says no documented harm occurred to birds or marine mammals, but the event was classified as severity Red 1 (major material/financial damage) with moderate environmental impact.
The spill occurred in a part of the sea where winds and currents could carry small oil accumulations ashore, which heightens plume risk. The investigation warns that detection was by chance; in other conditions the spill could have gone longer undetected.
Havtil identified regulatory non-conformities:
- Level gauges on the separator lacked correct calibration.
- Safety system testing was inadequate.
- Single-fault design allowed both control and safety systems to fail simultaneously.
They also flagged improvement points: knowledge gaps in transition from project to operation, insufficient understanding of assumptions made during design phases, inadequate oversight of process safety functions.
Equinor must now prepare a corrective action report that addresses the non-conformities and improvement points. Havtil will follow up to ensure changes take effect.
What the lessons mean for offshore workers and rig crews
While this accident happened on Njord A, the lessons apply everywhere. If you work offshore, take notice:
- Manual interventions in critical control systems must revert to automatic mode or include clear return-to-auto procedures.
- Level gauges and sensors tied to safety functions require rigorous calibration and verification.
- When a barrier fails—engineered safety, alarm system or manual override—the next barrier must act. Failure of multiple layers leads to real harm.
- A minor control-room anomaly (unstable oil-water interface) can escalate into a spill if you lose the signal early.
- Detection often depends on chance: smell, sight, a colleague’s patrol. Automated sensors and analytics still lag.
Companies and rig operators should use this case as a live example in toolbox talks, rig safety briefings and maintenance planning. Highlight the role of “manual-mode valves” that stay in fixed position when they should return to auto. Review your separator systems. If you conduct produced-water handling, know exactly the design tolerances and response thresholds.
Final thoughts
The Njord A rig oil spill reminds us that even in highly-regulated offshore environments, simple failures allow oil to reach the sea. The incident lasted only two hours and change, yet the system gaps became clear in real time. For rig crews, managers and safety personnel worldwide, this is not purely a Norwegian story—it is a universal one. If you are fitting out for a contract, reviewing your permit-to-work or upgrading your training, carry this case with you. Recognise how manual overrides, sensor failures and barrier gaps combine. Correct them before you see the plume on the water.
