OSLO, Norway, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A Norwegian regulator concluded that a fire last year on a BP oil platform in the North Sea could have easily resulted in a loss of life.
A crane engine overheated on a platform at the offshore Valhall field in July, forcing BP to evacuate more than a dozen workers. Norwegian regulator Petroleum Safety Authority said water cannons were used because of onboard difficulties in extinguishing the fire.
There were no injuries reported during the July accident. PSA, however, said that "under slightly different circumstances" the situation could've escalated and caused a major loss of life, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reports.
An investigation by PSA found the accident was likely caused by a "lack of maintenance" on the offshore platform. It also found "serious breaches" related to BP's management system.
A spokesman for the British oil company said it agreed with the PSA in terms of what caused the accident but objected to forecasts about the possible severity of the incident.
BP has until Feb. 1 to submit an improvement plan to PSA.
BP was producing about 42,000 barrels of oil per day from the platform. It was closed for more than two months following the accident.
