Total: Elgin Cement Plug In Place by Mid-September

PARIS - Total SA Friday said it expects to have put in place and completed by mid-September the cement plug designed to definitely seal a well at its North Sea platform of Elgin which leaked, forcing the evacuation and the powering down of the structure late April.

Since the leak was stopped mid-May, Total and its contractors "have now restarted the essential safety and support systems on board the Elgin complex and the adjacent Rowan Viking (430' ILC) drilling rig," the company said in a statement.

The incident revived fears of a major environmental disaster, such as BP PLC's Macondo accident in the Gulf of Mexico, which cost lives of several workers and impacted the local fauna.

Total said "the overall environmental impact of the incident has been minimal," noting that 3,096 tons of natural gas and 3,076 tons of condensate were lost through the leak, the majority of which evaporated in the atmosphere.

Moreover, the sheen, made of some condensate which fell to the sea and representing around 407 tons, dispersed naturally and later disappeared completely.

Copyright (c) 2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.