Total Suveys Elgin Platform

Weather conditions had improved enough today to enable Total to send a helicopter to the Elgin platform, after the company was forced to postpone sending one out yesterday due to harsh weather.

The company says that a helicopter took off from Aberdeen in Scotland today at 10.30 a.m. (9.30 a.m. GMT) and would land at the Elgin PUQ if it was able to do so.

The objective was to "allow a specialised team to perform a reconnaissance mission of the Elgin wellhead platform and the G4 well, if it is safe to do so," a short statement from the company said.

Reuters reports that the crew onboard comprises eight people, who include Total personnel and staff from a Houston-based company Wild Well Control which specialises in well control and firefighting for the gas and oil industry.

The helicopter was due to fly to the platform yesterday but concerns about the weather conditions in Scotland following a drop in temperature prior to flying caused the reconnaissance mission to be delayed to today.

The company says it will update on the operation in due course.

This is the second week gas has been leaking from the Elgin/Franklin platform located in the UK North Sea. Staff were first evacuated from the platform late at night on the 25th of March, with 238 staff completely evacuated by the morning of the 26th.

The company has said it has two options to deal with the leak and will confirm the method once inspection of the leak takes place. Total says it will drill two relief wells on the field, with drilling expected to begin on Sunday. Heavy mud will also be poured into the drill head to stem the gas flow.

Four firefighting ships remain on standby to deal with any fires caused by the leak.