Shell Evacuates Workers from Elgin Neighbouring Rigs
Shell has announced that it has removed a number of workers from two rigs nearby to the Elgin field, following a gas leak that began on Sunday at the Total-operated field. Operator Total evacuated its 238 staff from the Elgin platform on Sunday night and Monday morning.
Shell said that the move was taken the step as a precautionary measure.
"Shell UK Limited can confirm that a partial downman of personnel is underway at the company's Shearwater platform and the nearby Noble Hans Deul drilling rig," a spokesperson for Shell UK said.
The company said that the company viewed the move as prudent and that production from the Shearwater platform continued. However, drilling at the Noble Hans Deul rig has currently been suspended.
"Shell considers this to be a prudent precautionary measure following the gas leak at Total’s nearby Elgin Franklin process utilities quarters (PUQ) platform yesterday," the spokesman said. "While the move is purely precautionary and primarily driven by the prevailing weather conditions, and both facilities remain operational, it has been decided to reduce numbers to a more manageable level until the full situation surrounding the Elgin leak has been established."
Total said last night that it was still working to find the source of the leak but was doing all it could.
"At this stage, the precise cause of the leak remains unclear," the company said.
It is working with and updatong government departments including the Coastguard, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Secretary of State’s Representative, it said, as well as utilising experts from within the company to tackle the issue.
A sheen has been seen in the surrounding water and will be monitored via two flights today.
"TOTAL E&P UK confirms that the gas leak at the Elgin Well Head Platform remains ongoing, although the situation is currently stable," a statement for the company said. "We continue to take all possible measures to try to identify the source and cause of the leak and to bring it under control.
"Meanwhile, the presence of a sheen on the water has been confirmed in the vicinity of the platform and Oil Spill Response (OSRL) have carried out two aerial surveillance flights to assess the situation. Initial reports from OSRL indicate no change in the size and appearance of this over the course of the day [yesterday]."
David Hainsworth, health, safety and environment manager for Total E&P UK has said that the sheen measures approximately six nautical miles but had not changed significantly since observation began. All measures are being take to reduce any chance of accident or incident, he said.
"The gas is flammable but the platform power was turned off to minimise risk of ignition, but clearly there is a risk. We have taken away a series of risks but there is always a possibility; it's low but you never say never. The best-case scenario is that the gas in this area is not very productive and it dies off in the coming days and weeks.
"At the moment there is no real evolution of the sheen on the sea but if that was to change--and it's monitored on a daily basis--then the exclusion zone may be increased, but at the moment it will probably stay the same."
Total is the operator of the Elgin field, which is located approximately kilometres off Aberdeen, Scotland in the UK North Sea, through subsidiary E.F. Oil and Gas Limited. Total holds a 77.5 per cent stake in that company; Gaz de France holds the other 22.5 per cent stake.