The rate of gas spewing out of Total’s stricken Elgin platform has decreased to around one third of that originally estimated.
It is now predicted that just less than 2.5tonnes of gas are escaping from the G4 well every hour, compared with the seven tonnes which started leaking from the gas platform on March 25.
Bosses at Total released the information yesterday following new data the firm had received from its latest scientific flights, modelling and platform visits.
This comes in the same week as a national grid report showed the total power it expected to miss out on would have supplied one million properties – enough to heat Aberdeen for a decade.
It is still hoped the leak may stop on its own and bosses at Total are encouraged by the rate of decline.
However, a spokes-woman said last night the company cannot rely on this happening – and has had to continue with work to halt the leak.
In the last week, the French energy giant has continued to step up its preparations to start performing the two procedures which it is hoped will permanently “kill” the leaking G4 well.
All 238 men had to be evacuated from the platform almost a month ago after the leak was first discovered.
Since then, plans have been put in motion to develop two technical solutions they will use to stem the gas coming from the North Sea installation.
The first approach will involve heavy mud being pumped down into the well from the top at high pressure using either the West Phoenix, a semi-submersible rig, or the Skandi Aker, a well intervention vessel.
Once the mud has blocked the gas and restored the normal pressure, cement will be poured into the well to seal it.
Simultaneously, drilling will begin on two relief wells to intercept the leak and pump in mud from the bottom.
This back-up method, which will be deployed in case the first approach fails to work, will take up to six months to complete. This week Total has continued with its preparatory work for both of the options.
Drilling of the G4 relief well (G4-K1) has now started while, in parallel, experts continued with key tasks in preparation for the kill well-control operation.
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