An estimated leak of 10L of crude oil was spilled from the hose end valve during a connection attempt on December 18, prompting the company to notify the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.
The sea surface was monitored for five days, with no sheens reported, but heavy seas prevented a remote-operated vehicle to be launched to assess the damage.
A sheen was noted on December 27, with a ROV launched three days later confirming the leak.
Offloading to tankers has been suspended and production rates at the Hibernia Platform have been cut back significantly while Hibernia prepares to mobilise vessels and equipment to stop the leak and begin clean up.
Estimated on-water volumes are said to be 0.009-0.8L of crude, with no wildlife sighted in the area of the sheen.
Hibernia's shareholders are ExxonMobil Canada (33.125%), Chevron Canada Resources (26.875%), Suncor (20%), Canada Hibernia Holding Coporation (8.5%), Murphy Oil (6.5%) and Statoil Canada (5%).
