EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- While Shell needs to be as transparent as possible regarding a North Sea oil leak, the Scottish government said it expects the impact to be minimal.
Shell acknowledged last week that around 1,500 barrels of oil spilled from its Gannet platform in the North Sea.
Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said research vessels were sent to the area to take fish, seawater and sediment samples to determine what impact the spill had on the regional environment.
He said there weren't any Scottish fishing vessels near the platform, however, so he expected the impact to be minimal.
"Our understanding is that output from the North Sea oil leak has been greatly reduced and that Shell is continuing work to stop the flow completely," he said in a statement. "It is important that Shell is as open and transparent as possible and provide regular updates on the developing situation."
Shell officials waited two days before issuing public statements about the North Sea oil spill but said regional officials were notified of the spill immediately after it was discovered last Wednesday.
The amount of oil leaking from the platform was estimated at around 42 gallons per day.
