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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Total fined £1.125m for Elgin platform gas leak | Total fined £1.125m for Elgin platform gas leak |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Oil company Total has been fined £1.125m for failings that caused one of the biggest ever gas leaks in the North Sea. | Oil company Total has been fined £1.125m for failings that caused one of the biggest ever gas leaks in the North Sea. |
| Total's Elgin platform, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, was evacuated when the gas began leaking in March 2012. | Total's Elgin platform, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, was evacuated when the gas began leaking in March 2012. |
| The leak was stopped after 51 days by pumping heavy mud into the well, followed by the use of cement plugs. | |
| Total admitted offshore installation regulation failings at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. | Total admitted offshore installation regulation failings at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. |
| No-one was injured as a result of the leak. | No-one was injured as a result of the leak. |
| The court heard that workers ran fearing for their lives after the sudden uncontrolled release of gas was discovered. | |
| Total admitted the leak happened after miscalculating a plan designed to kill an unstable gas well on the platform. | |
| 'Clear message' | |
| WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "The gas leak at the Elgin platform endangered lives, cost the company millions and added to climate change. | |
| "It's therefore good to see a fine that reflects the seriousness of the incident. | |
| "Hopefully the outcome of this case will send a clear message to the rest of the oil and gas industry to massively improve safety procedures. | |
| "While it was a relief that the Elgin leak was able to be stopped, the fact it happened at all and that a potent greenhouse gas was able to spew out for nearly two months was unacceptable." | |
| The BBC Scotland news website revealed last week that Total had been charged. |