Total ready for Elgin intervention

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ABERDEEN, Scotland, May 11 (UPI) -- Final preparations for well intervention for the natural gas leak from the Elgin platform off the coast of Scotland are nearly finished, Total said.

Natural gas was leaking from above the water's surface at a rate of around 2.1 million cubic feet per day, though the French supermajor said that's slowed to around 1.7 million cubic feet per day.

Total announced final preparations for a well intervention meant to control the leak are nearly completed. A drilling rig is about 100 feet from the platform.

"Weather permitting, the well intervention should now start within a very few days," the energy company said in a statement.

The Met Office, the British national weather service, said Friday it has issued gale warnings for waters off the northeast coast of Scotland.

Natural gas isn't leaking into the water. Scottish scientists said fish samples revealed no levels of contamination from the Elgin leak and no natural gas has reached shore.

The natural gas leak from Elgin was first reported March 25.