EnergyPeople has learned that 11 workers, 8 displaying symptoms and 3 who had been in close contact with the others, have been evacuated from a Valaris drilling rig working in the North Sea.

The 11 staff all worked for Premier Oil onboard the Rowan Gorilla VI Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit and were flown to Aberdeen.

The Catcher field lies around 110 miles east of Aberdeen.

Premier Oil said health and safety procedures had been its “top priority” and in-line with Oil and Gas UK guidelines.

It added that an intensive deep clean has now taken place and that social distancing measures remain in place.

London-headquartered Valaris, created through a merger between Ensco and Rowan, mobilised the rig out to the Catcher field in April.

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