Deep Panuke platform back in operation after fire

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board says it is satisfied construction work can resume on the Deep Panuke offshore natural gas production facility after it was hit by an electrical panel fire earlier this month.

Earlier this month, 46 non-essential personnel were flown off the Deep Panuke platform after an early morning fire in an electrical panel.

The fire was put out by crew members and no one was injured, but the platform's automated fire suppression system failed to engage.

"The board, along with its certifying authority (Lloyd's Register), have confirmed that necessary electrical repairs have been completed and that the CO2 fire suppression system has been tested and put back in service," the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board said in a statement released Monday.

The fire occurred as the much delayed platform — located in deep waters off Nova Scotia's Sable island — was undergoing final commissioning.

The platform is being built by SBM Offshore — the Dutch company hired to build, commission and operate the natural gas platform — for Calgary-based Encana. It's set to start producing natural gas by mid-2013.

Encana has said it does not expect its schedule will be delayed by the fire, which was contained to an electrical cabinet in the emergency switchboard room.

Encana and SBM Offshore jointly investigated the fire and have passed on the results to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board. The board sent its own safety officers to the rig twice since the incident.

"The operator advised the board over the weekend of its intention to re-deploy construction personnel to the platform to resume construction activities," the board said in its statement.

"The board is satisfied that appropriate corrective actions have been taken enabling the operator to proceed."