While pinpointing the primary source, Norway’s state-owned energy giant Equinor has shared its findings regarding a recent investigation into an incident at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on Melkøya island in Northern Norway.
During a period of high activity at Hammerfest LNG (HLNG), from summer 2024 to summer 2025, 37 people sought medical attention on four different occasions, and nine people were absent from work following exposure incidents. While some experienced health issues such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness, others noticed nothing.
The company acknowledges that reactions to vented gas and the associated odor are a cause of the various health issues experienced by personnel, but believes it is unlikely that this exposure has led to long-term health issues.
While confirming the completion of the probe into exposure incidents at Hammerfest LNG, Equinor has identified venting from the MEG tanks as the main source causing the exposure incidents, explaining that several factors occurred simultaneously to enable these events, such as wind conditions, which caused the gas to descend to ground level, where personnel were working.
Christina Dreetz, Senior Vice President of Onshore Plants at Equinor, commented: “We welcome the clarity provided on what has been a complex matter. The investigation report identifies the underlying causes and outlines the connection between the various incidents and the health issues they resulted in.”
The Norwegian giant’s report points to insufficient risk assessment before the project start-up and follow-up as the reason behind several incidents that occurred during the year. Since the investigation team has found that venting from the MEG tanks is the main cause of the exposure incidents, the company elaborates that the tanks are designed so that the vented gas consists of nitrogen and water vapour.
“We must acknowledge that we should have gone more in depth to identify the causes when the first incidents of exposure occurred at Melkøya last summer. Through measures implemented both during and after the investigation, we now have routines that enable us to manage risk more effectively,” emphasized Dreetz.
The firm’s findings show that changes in the well stream in the MEG tanks or temperature fluctuations have contributed to changes in the composition of the vented gas, resulting in odors and, in some cases, discomfort or illness when venting occurred at the same time as wind brought the vented gas down to ground level.
According to Equinor, the project activities in L201 and adjacent areas have led to more people being present in regions where there was previously no activity. Regular sampling of vented gas was not carried out, and the measures implemented after the first exposure incident were not sufficient to prevent recurrence.
Subsequently, several types of measurements have been carried out to map the gas composition and exposure risk in the area. The investigation report also shows that a lack of ownership, communication, and follow-up of measures between the Snøhvit Future project and the operations organization at Hammerfest LNG contributed to the exposure risk not being managed well enough.
“The results show that most measurements have generally been low. Measurements of benzene and other volatile organic compounds have been sporadic and short-lived,” noted Dreetz.
With this in mind, HLNG has implemented measures to curb the risk of exposure and strengthen safety at the facility.
Additionally, introduction programs and instructions have been updated for everyone working at the facility to strengthen the shared safety and reporting culture. A local health office has also been established at Melkøya.
“The measures initiated have had the desired effect. This includes the installation of a temporary filtration solution, improved monitoring, mapping and sampling of vented gas from the MEG tanks, as well as measurement routines at ground level,” underlined Dreetz.
The investigation report will be submitted to the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority, which is also conducting its own investigation. Hammerfest LNG is described as the world’s northernmost export facility for LNG, located on Melkøya outside Hammerfest.
With an annual production of 4.6 million tonnes of LNG, the facility began operations in 2007, employing approximately 500 people (over 900 during the project period).
The Snøhvit Future project will secure feed gas for the LNG plant and includes onshore compression and electrification of Melkøya to reduce CO2 emissions by around 850,000 tonnes annually.
