BP orders evacuation of North Sea Valhall oilfield

Oil giant BP has ordered the evacuation of the Valhall oilfield in the North Sea due to an unmanned barge drifting towards a drilling platform.

Earlier on Thursday, the company had evacuated 150 workers but has now ordered a complete evacuation after it failed to regain control of the barge, which broke free of its anchor in rough weather.

“The barge has changed direction and BP has decided to shut production [at Valhall] and there will be a total demanning of the platform. There are 71 people left on the platform and they are being evacuated as we speak,” a BP spokesman told Reuters.

The oil field is co-owned by Hess and produces around 8,000 barrels of oil per day.

At 1000 GMT, BP shares were up 0.1% to 355.64p.