Total UK Ltd. has installed a diverter on the G4 well to divert leaking nature gas away from the Elgin wellhead platform in the North Sea, ensuring no gas accumulates around the wellhead or the platform.
“This reinforces the safety of the well intervention operation and helps alleviate restrictions on helicopter landings on the platform from now on,” Total said.
Total stopped production on Elgin and Franklin gas fields following a Mar. 25 gas leak on the wellhead platform 240 km east of Aberdeen, Total said. No injuries were reported, and 238 people were evacuated (OGJ Online, Mar. 27, 2012).
Total representatives and specialist contractors also positioned other equipment for the well intervention operation. The dynamically positioned drilling rig, the West Phoenix, will be used as the main support vessel, and it’s expected to be placed alongside the Elgin complex soon, Total said Apr. 26.
The Skandi Aker, currently still in Peterhead Harbor in Scotland, will have a complementary supporting role during this operation.
In parallel, Transocean Ltd.’s Sedco 714 semisubmersible drilling rig is drilling the first relief well according to plan. Total said. The Sedco 712 is 2 km east of the Elgin complex. The relief well was spudded on Apr. 18.
