A leading wildlife welfare group is pressing for complete transparency from Total following the gas leak.
The RSPB Scotland charity has contacted the energy giant and said it will monitor the situation closely to help ensure it is contained.
Director Stuart Housden said last night: “It is clear that this is a unique situation and Total has admitted they have no experience of responding to leaks of gas condensates and managing their potential negative impacts on the wider environment in the North Sea before.
“We should not forget that Shell were heavily criticised last year in relation to their handling of the oil leak on the Gannet Alpha platform in the North Sea, and they subsequently acknowledged that their lack of information from the outset was a mistake. Lessons should be learned from this by Total. They need to be open and consultative from the outset.”