This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-17522086

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
No immediate danger from platform flare, says Total No immediate danger from platform flare, says Total
(40 minutes later)
The operator of a North Sea platform which is leaking gas has said there is no immediate danger of ignition. A flare is still burning in the stack above a North Sea platform from which gas has been leaking for three days.
Oil company Total said the escaped gas is at a lower height than a flare which is still alight on the installation. Experts were concerned that if escaping gas connected with the burning flame it could explode.
Earlier, it revealed it could take six months to drill a relief well to stop the gas leak at its Elgin platform in the North Sea. Oil company Total said the cloud of escaped gas was at a lower height than a flare which is still alight on the Elgin platform, 150 miles off Aberdeen.
The company is looking at several options to stem the flow of gas following Sunday's incident. A Total spokesman said the wind was blowing the gas plume in the opposite direction, away from the flare stack.
A cloud of gas was reported to be surrounding the platform, which is located 150 miles (240km) off Aberdeen. Jake Molloy, from the RMT union, said it was "beyond comprehension" that the flare was still burning.
Jake Molloy, of the RMT union, which represents some offshore workers, said the potential remained for "catastrophic devastation". The production platform flare burns a gas flame in an elevated vertical stack.
In normal operations, its primary purpose is to act as a safety device to protect pipes from too much pressure.
It also burns waste gas.
Total hopes the flare will burn itself out in the next few days, as production has been shut down.
A cloud of gas was reported to be surrounding the platform.
A sheen of between two and 23 tonnes of gas condensate, measuring six nautical miles in length, has been reported on the water nearby.
Mr Molloy, who represents offshore workers who were evacuated from the platform on Sunday, said the potential remained for "catastrophic devastation".
Oceanographer Simon Boxall told BBC Scotland's Newnight Scotland programme if the gas connected with the flare it would explode.
He said: "It would not just go on fire, it would be a fairly volatile explosion."
David Hainsworth, health, safety and environment manager for Total E&P UK, said on Tuesday the situation was "stable".David Hainsworth, health, safety and environment manager for Total E&P UK, said on Tuesday the situation was "stable".
He said all the power was turned off when the platform was evacuated to minimise the risk of igniting an explosion.He said all the power was turned off when the platform was evacuated to minimise the risk of igniting an explosion.
However, it later emerged that the flare was still alight on the main production platform. It later emerged that the flare was still alight on the main production platform.
Mr Hainsworth said: "However, the wind is blowing the gas plume in the opposite direction away from this flare.Mr Hainsworth said: "However, the wind is blowing the gas plume in the opposite direction away from this flare.
"We know that the weather forecast is such that the wind remains the same for the following five to six days and we are evaluating options to extinguish this flare.""We know that the weather forecast is such that the wind remains the same for the following five to six days and we are evaluating options to extinguish this flare."
Exclusion zones have been put in place around the platform.Exclusion zones have been put in place around the platform.
Coastguards said shipping was being ordered to keep at least two miles away and there was a three-mile exclusion zone for aircraft.Coastguards said shipping was being ordered to keep at least two miles away and there was a three-mile exclusion zone for aircraft.
Shell has moved 120 non-essential staff from the Shearwater platform and Hans Deul drilling rig, about four miles from the Elgin, because of the drifting gas.Shell has moved 120 non-essential staff from the Shearwater platform and Hans Deul drilling rig, about four miles from the Elgin, because of the drifting gas.
Shell later said it was bring forward plans to carry out maintenance at Shearwater.Shell later said it was bring forward plans to carry out maintenance at Shearwater.
The Scottish government said ministers were being kept "fully informed of developments".The Scottish government said ministers were being kept "fully informed of developments".
Total said it was looking at several options to stem the flow of gas following Sunday's incident.
Earlier, it revealed it could take six months to drill a relief well to stop the leak.
Human sideHuman side
Total, which operates the Elgin platform, said the situation was stable but it had not yet been able to identify the source of the leak.
A sheen of between two and 23 tonnes of gas condensate, measuring six nautical miles in length, has been reported on the water nearby.
Mr Molloy, of the RMT union, was asked if the incident was the most serious in the North Sea since the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform tragedy which saw 167 men die.Mr Molloy, of the RMT union, was asked if the incident was the most serious in the North Sea since the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform tragedy which saw 167 men die.
He told BBC Scotland: "Fortunately we have dealt with the human side of it, but the potential exists for catastrophic devastation.He told BBC Scotland: "Fortunately we have dealt with the human side of it, but the potential exists for catastrophic devastation.
"If it somehow finds an ignition source we could be looking at complete destruction.""If it somehow finds an ignition source we could be looking at complete destruction."
Wullie Wallace, of the Unite union, called for a full evacuation and power down of all oil platforms within a five-mile radius of the incident.Wullie Wallace, of the Unite union, called for a full evacuation and power down of all oil platforms within a five-mile radius of the incident.
He said: "The risk may be low but our concern is that if the drifting gas was to hit any of the neighbouring installations the results could be catastrophic.He said: "The risk may be low but our concern is that if the drifting gas was to hit any of the neighbouring installations the results could be catastrophic.
"We would call on the oil and gas industry and the Health and Safety Executive not to take any chances here.""We would call on the oil and gas industry and the Health and Safety Executive not to take any chances here."
The Elgin platform was not a deepwater drilling rig and platform but it was unusual in that they were drilling down 5km (3.1 miles) into the sea bed.The Elgin platform was not a deepwater drilling rig and platform but it was unusual in that they were drilling down 5km (3.1 miles) into the sea bed.
All 238 workers were removed from the Elgin installation and the nearby Rowan Viking drilling rig by helicopter on Sunday.All 238 workers were removed from the Elgin installation and the nearby Rowan Viking drilling rig by helicopter on Sunday.
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been monitoring the situation and said there was no indication of a risk of significant pollution to the environment.The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been monitoring the situation and said there was no indication of a risk of significant pollution to the environment.