Elgin Gas Leak Explained

Last year's leak from the Elgin gas platform was caused by a "unique" interaction of rock compaction and pipe corrosion, according Total, the field's operator.

The French multinational said the leak, which was discovered in March and took over seven weeks to plug, happened when the compaction caused unusual pressures higher up, eventually breaking pipework weakened by corrosion. The field has been shut ever since.

The Elgin is situated on one of the world's most highly pressurised fields.

Reuters quoted Patrice De Vivies, chairman of Total UK,  at a post-results news conference in London. Total chief executive Christophe de Margerie said he expected to receive a letter "in the next days" from Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that will allow it to restart Elgin soon.