Total: Elgin Well Intervention Will Begin Within Days

Total has announced that it will begin well intervention work on the Elgin leak site within days, with weather permitting.

In a weekly update issued last night, the company said that it was nearing completion of its final preparations for the well intervention operations. The operation, which will involve Total pumping heavy mud into the G4 wellhead, is aimed to cease the leak at its source.

In preparation for this, the West Phoenix drilling rig has been moved into position, 30 metres away from the Elgin platform. This rig will connect to a temporary pipeline and will pump the mud into the wellhead.

The company says that in the past week, work on the West Phoenix rig has included welding of "some key components", the deployment of communication transponders and final testing of essential equipment, such as the dynamic positioning and mist water systems.

Total has also said that the leakage of the wellhead continues to diminish, with leak amounts at a quarter of what it initially leaked.

When the leakage began, daily rates of gas flow totalled approximately 200,000 cubic metres; Total says that observation on the leak site, conducted by over-sights made in 11 helicopter trips, now puts that amount at 50,000 cubic metres a day.

Work also continues on the drilling of the first of two relief wells at the site. The first well, which is being drilled by the Sedco 714 sub-sea drilling rig, continues to progress as planned, Total says.