EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 6 (UPI) -- The Scottish government said a natural gas leak at Total's Elgin platform off the coast of Aberdeen poses a minimal environmental threat.
The Elgin platform in the North Sea was evacuated after Total confirmed a significant natural gas leak about 150 miles off the coast of Aberdeen last week. Total said natural gas was leaking from a rock formation a few thousand feet above the main reservoir, which is 18,000 feet under water.
The Scottish government announced it established an environmental group to assess and monitor all available environmental data on the Elgin gas leak.
"The environmental risk continues to be assessed as minimal at this stage," Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said in a statement. "However the Scottish government remains vigilant and we are carefully monitoring the situation and any developments."
Total this week began publishing summaries of its aerial surveillance of the site. It estimated the sheen associated with the natural gas leak measures about 15 square miles.
The energy company was able to send a team to examine the site this week. It announced plans to pump drilling mud on the well and drill two relief wells below the Elgin platform.
