Major gas leak in North Sea, hundreds of workers evacuated

[Emily]

http://www.verticalmag.com/news/articles/20125-raf-helicopter-crews-today-told-of-their-part-in-the-dramati.html
RAF helicopter crews today told of their part in the dramatic rescue of more than 200 workers from a oil platform leaking gas in the North Sea
Thursday March 29th 2012 - RAF

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577311010611778038.html
March 29, 2012, 5:48 a.m. ET
North Sea Gas Leak Could Cost Billions

http://www.stltoday.com/business/national-and-international/activists-worry-over-north-sea-platform-gas-leak/article_aacb6abb-d371-5007-9769-577f7c72d272.html
Activists worry over North Sea platform gas leak
Associated Press | Posted: Thursday, March 29, 2012 4:03 am

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Major gas leak in North Sea, hundreds of workers evacuated

Source of North Sea gas leak found, says Total

Oil company says Elgin rig is still at risk of explosion but situation now 'bad case' rather than 'worst-case' scenario

Severin Carrell and agencies
guardian.co.uk, <TIME datetime="2012-03-29T15:29EDT" pubdate="">Thursday 29 March 2012 15.29 EDT

Oil company Total believes it has found the source of the gas leak from its North Sea platform, as it sent two fire-fighting vessels to the edge of the emergency exclusion zone.

The French fuel group said it had traced the leak to a gas pocket in a rock formation 4km (2.5 miles) below the seabed but 1km above the gas reservoir being tapped by the Elgin platform, which was evacuated on Sunday when the leak was discovered.

In an attempt to quell fears about the risks of explosion from the gas cloud which has settled above the area, it said there were now fire-fighting ships on standby at the edge of the two nautical mile (2.3 mile) exclusion zone.

Marine experts and oil industry unions are alarmed about the dangers of the gas cloud being ignited by a flare still burning on the platform, about 100 metres from the leak, if the wind changes direction in coming days.

More...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/29/north-sea-oil-gas-leak-source-found
</TIME>