Total UK Ltd. said it started the planned well intervention operation to stop the natural gas leak from the G4 well on the Elgin complex in the North Sea on May 15.
The West Phoenix semisubmersible drilling rig is pumping heavy drilling mud into the well using a temporary pipeline connected to the G4 wellhead.
“Depending on the precise conditions inside the well, the operation itself and the subsequent observation period will last a few days before it is possible to confirm whether the operation has been fully effective,” Total UK said.
Total UK stopped production on Elgin and Franklin gas fields following a Mar. 25 gas leak on the wellhead platform 240 km east of Aberdeen. Crisis management teams were mobilized in Aberdeen and Paris. No injuries were reported; 238 people were evacuated (OGJ Online, Mar. 27, 2012).
In parallel, a relief well is being drilled.
