Total reports £27m income drop
The boss of French energy giant Total said yesterday the company had to strengthen its commitment to safety in the wake of the gas leak on its Elgin platform.
Health, Safety & Environment
Gas leak: Operator plans to step up kill operation
Total said yesterday it planned to step up the operation to "kill" the leaking Elgin well next week.
Survival Craft Inspectorate on growth track
North east firm Survival Craft Inspectorate is to create more than 20 jobs and expand its production facility after a 25% rise in demand, the firm said yesterday.
Industry and unions unite against EU safety plans
Trade unions for offshore workers joined forces today with industry body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) to decry proposed EU safety regulation, saying it could set the industry back years.
Buzzard shutdown after compressor failure
Production at the UK's largest oil field has been halted after smoke was seen on an installation at the weekend.
Praise for ‘very best of the best’
Oil and gas workers were celebrating yesterday at a ceremony in Aberdeen recognising leaders in health-and-safety practice.
Too soon to assess the damage, says Friends of the Earth boss
The chief executive of environmental group Friends of the Earth Scotland has claimed it is "completely premature" to begin assessing the damage caused by gas leaking from the Elgin platform.
Tests show fish not affected
The first in a series of Government tests has found that the highly explosive gas escaping from Total's stricken Elgin platform has not affected the marine life in the area.
EU plan impact ‘poses risk’
European Union plans to take regulatory control of the North Sea industry would be more damaging to oil and gas operators than a spill, according to analysts.
Service firm scoops 13th BSC award
Sodexo said yesterday it had received its 13th consecutive British Safety Council (BSC) International Award.
Helicopter’s deadly flaws exposed in wake of North Sea tragedy
The Super Puma helicopter has experienced a troubled recent history.
Super Pumas in safety alert after brakes fail
FRESH safety fears have been raised over the helicopters used to fly hundreds of oil and gas workers offshore every day.
Greenpeace tests for pollution at scene
Greenpeace has sent a ship to the Elgin platform to take samples of the air and water.
‘Hellfighters’ answer 2,700 emergency calls
Wild Well Control was involved in BP's huge operation after the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Crisis team prepares to board gas-leak platform
An elite team of offshore crisis engineers is preparing to board Total's abandoned Elgin platform to halt a dangerous gas leak.
Concerns played down over Elgin platform’s other wells
Total has played down fears other wells on the Elgin platform could suffer the same fate as the one spraying gas over the North Sea.
Crew at Gulf spill called in
A US company which helped tackle the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been called in to help avert disaster at the Elgin platform.
Pledge on oil spill details
The UK Government's energy minister has pledged that more information about oil and gas spills in the North Sea will be made public.
Rigs’ operations suspended so they can drill relief wells
Total has suspended drilling operations on two rigs in the North Sea so they can be used in a major operation to help stop the Elgin platform gas leak.
Total boss sets out Elgin position
Philippe Guys, Total E&P UK managing director, today spoke to reporters about the incident on the Elgin platform 150 miles east of Aberdeen.
Labour praises quick thinking of platform workers
Labour praised the "quick thinking" of workers on the North Sea's Elgin platform yesterday for preventing an even more serious incident.
Call for more evacuations
A trade union has renewed calls for the evacuation of up to 200 more people working within a few miles of the North Sea platform at the centre of a gas leak.
Total find source of gas leak
Total said yesterday that it had found the source of its leak on the Elgin platform - but has yet to decide how to stop it.
Firms should fix damage
Europe wants to change compensation rules to make offshore companies liable for environmental damage they cause at sea.
Timeline: How events unfolded over the past week
Sunday: Total launches an emergency evacuation of about 200 staff from the Elgin/Franklin platforms and the Rowan Viking drilling rig after gas is found to be leaking following a "well control problem". Initially 27 workers are left but all are later evacuated. A three-mile no-fly zone is put in place around the platforms.