Flow through the Forties pipeline system from the North Sea, idled since Dec. 11, should be back to normal in early January, the operator said Thursday. Pipeline operator Ineos said it started the planning phase for the eventual resumption of operations on a system that sends about 40 percent of the oil produced in the British waters of the North Sea to inland refineries. A hairline crack was discovered in the pipeline near Aberdeen and the company closed the system down Dec. 11. The crack is stabilized, custom components needed for a fix are en route and the network should be back up and running in about a week. “Work on the pipeline is progressing well and based […]