Total Installs Diverter at Elgin

Total has said that it has installed a diverter on the Elgin G4 wellhead this week, as part of its operations to cease a gas leak at the UK North Sea site.

The first relief well on the leak, which has been ongoing since the 25th of March, is currently underway according to schedule and according to plan. This well, drilled by the Sedco 714, is the first of two planned for the relief operations.

In addition to the relief well, Total has this week installed a diverter on the G4 well. The specially manufactured piece of equipment, which aims to keep gas from accumulating around the platform or wellhead, uses four houses to divert the leaking gas. The diverter will help Total greatly in maintaining the safety of the platform, especially in relation to the landing of helicopters on the site to perform the necessary repairs.

So far this week, Total says that it has not been able to send as many helicopters as it would like, due to bad weather, with only two helicopters reaching the gas leak so far.

In the two times personnel were cleared to travel to the site, the company says they installed the diverter and were able "to continue laying down essential equipment for the well intervention and undertook further monitoring and inspection".

Total also says that the rig intended to be used for the relief operation, the West Phoenix rig, is currently being moved into place. It remains on the two-nautical mile exclusion zone of the Elgin and will be moved "as soon as possible" alongside the Elgin complex.