Total says gas production at Elgin to resume by end of year
19 June 2012
Total Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie said the firm is confident it will be able to restart production at its Elgin field in the North Sea by the end of the year, Reuters reports. The complex was shut down for many weeks as a result of a major gas leak, which was eventually plugged thanks to a major kill operation in May.
Despite the plugging of the Elgin gas leak, the Sedco 714 rig (left) will continue to drill a relief well
The French company also announced in a news conference that it is aiming to maintain its target of a 2.5% rise in production at the location.
Total has redeployed more than 120 staff to the Elgin Platform, out of a potential maximum of 138. Work is still being done on the nearby Rowan Viking jackup rig, which can be reached from the platform. This will be used to pump cement down into the well, currently plugged with heavy mud, to plug it permanently.
Work to drill a relief well using the Sedco 714 semi-submersible rig is still continuing in case the process to cement the well does not work.
In May, the firm said the cementing process would take about six weeks and could start “within a month or so” of getting people back on the platform.
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