Reprehensible practice

AFTENBLADET THINKS: That new Russians are allowed to come and work offshore in Norway raises questions both about the safety of the employees and the principles of companies that have a strong presence in Russia.

SLB (formerly Schlumberger) has sent two Russian citizens to rigs on the Norwegian continental shelf. This is shown in a report of concern that Aftenbladet has gained access to.

The one Russian is said to have been sent out on the drilling rig Deepsea Aberdeen, which works for Equinor. It is unknown where the other Russian has been sent.

The Petroleum Safety Authority confirms that they have received reports of concern about the case.

Equinor says that they have not found any breach of the rules, and Odfjell Drilling says that they have not found anything suspicious in this case.

But this case clearly arouses fear among the other offshore workers. A report of concern calls the company’s decision to bring in Russian citizens to the Norwegian continental shelf “tone deaf”.

Martin Skogland, club leader for SAFE in SLB, told Aftenbladet that they do not think it is right for the company to bring in new Russians when the situation is as it is in Europe.

“One day, employees are told to scout for drones on the rig. The platform manager came down and told us to pay attention, because we had a new threat situation. The next day, my members’ closest employee is a Russian who was brought directly from Russia,” said Skogland.

We are not talking here about Russians who already live in Norway, but Russians who have been brought here in recent months.

Creating unnecessary fear in the other offshore workers is objectionable in itself. But the case also raises a question of principle that is about more than just the two Russian offshore workers.

Because while competitors Baker Hughes and Halliburton have withdrawn from Russia after the attack on Ukraine last year, SLB has continued its activity in the country.

SLB’s activity in Russia and Central Asia is said to have grown by 25 per cent in the third quarter of last year, figures from Reuters showed. Revenues in the same area must have increased by 45 per cent from the first to the third quarter.

The company will have hired 70 new people in Russia towards the end of 2022.

The pressure was great on both Equinor and other companies after the war started. Equinor quickly pulled out of Russia.

After massive pressure, also in Norway, the German oil company Wintershall withdrew from Russia in January this year. The question then is whether we should accept that SLB increases its presence in Russia and contributes to the regime in the country being able to earn money for its warfare.

Schlumberger’s answer is that SBL has always embraced diversity. And that they do not discriminate against certain nationalities.

But this is not about discrimination. It is about offshore employees feeling safe when they are at work and about being consistent in their principles.