A worker was injured on the Hibernia platform after two casing joints dropped from a gantry crane during drilling operations on 18 July 2026. Hibernia Management and Development Company (HMDC) has opened a root-cause investigation, which is being monitored by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator (C-NLOER).
The incident occurred as a pipe deck crew prepared 9 5/8-in. casing for transfer to the drilling rig. Two joints, weighing about 2,100 lb each, became detached from the crane’s magnetic lifting system and dropped approximately 2 m to the pipe deck.
One joint hit a worker in the lower leg. The worker was taken ashore for further medical evaluation.
Using the industry’s Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme calculator, C-NLOER determined that the incident had fatality potential. It was the second potentially fatal incident reported at the offshore facility in just over two months.
An earlier event was reported on the Hibernia platform on 12 May 2026. The regulator continues to monitor the operator’s follow-up actions related to that incident.
Work in the affected area was halted after the latest event, and the gantry crane was taken out of service for examination. The manufacturer found no deficiencies and cleared the equipment to resume operation.
The Hibernia platform is located offshore Newfoundland and Labrador and is operated by HMDC. Its shareholders are led by ExxonMobil Canada, with a 33.125% interest, followed by Chevron, Suncor, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil and Equinor Canada. ExxonMobil provides management and operational support services to HMDC.
