Flare alight on gas leak platform

A flare is still alight on an offshore platform which has been evacuated following a gas leak, it has emerged.

However Total, which operates the Elgin platform, said the wind is blowing the gas plume in the opposite direction to the flare.

All 238 workers were evacuated from the company’s Elgin PUQ platform, about 150 miles (241km) off the coast of Aberdeen, following the discovery of the leak on Sunday.

It could take as long as six months to drill a relief well to stop the release of gas.

An exclusion zone of two nautical miles (2.3 miles) has been set up around Elgin, with ships and aircraft ordered to stay away from the area.

Last night it emerged that a flare is still burning on the installation.

Total E&P UK, which operates the Elgin platform, said it was taking “all possible measures” to try to identify the source and cause of the leak and to bring it under control.

It is looking at various options on how to stem the release of gas.

Shell has reduced its workforce on two offshore installations close to the Total platform as a precaution.

Around 85 staff have been taken off the company’s Shearwater platform and the nearby Noble Hans Deul drilling rig, leaving a workforce of 117 people.

Shell also said it has brought forward plans for maintenance at Shearwater and is shutting down production in a “controlled manner”.

A sheen on the water is present near the platform, estimated to extend over 4.8 square kilometres (1.85 square miles) and measure between two and 20 tonnes in volume.

Total said its preliminary assessments indicate there has been no significant impact on the environment because of the leak.