‘We’ve seen everything and have a game plan’

TOTAL has released the first picture of the source of the potentially catastrophic gas leak on the energy giant’s Elgin platform.

The photograph, top, was taken by members of the reconnaissance team, above, who were the first to board the platform since it was abandoned on 25 March. It shows part of the wellhead assembly for the rogue G4 well on the Well Head Platform .

The pipe work is caked in drilling mud, forced to the surface by the gas leak.

The company states: “The Elgin G4 wellhead assembly with a clear view of the source of the gas leak coming out of four ports – release points. Localised deposits of condensate and drilling mud were expelled on the wellhead area of the Elgin Well Head Platform at the beginning of the leak and have solidified. This mud contains predominantly a drilling fluid, which is readily biodegradable. This drilling mud is not harmful to the environment.”

Meanwhile, in a video taped interview also released by Total, one of the Wild Well “hellfighters” on the mission claims the success of the operation has enabled the team to develop a “game plan” to finally kill the leaking well.

Joe Dean Thompson, vice president for operations at Wild Well Control, said: “It was an absolute success. We get to see everything we needed to see and [can now] put forth a game plan.”