Total knew of gas leak fears four weeks ago

FEARS were raised about the leaking well at Total’s stricken Elgin platform four weeks ago, the Press and Journal can reveal today.

The French oil giant has now pinpointed the source of the gas leak – a 13,000ft deep reservoir which was capped a year ago. But within hours it emerged that staff had raised concerns about the well earlier this month.

The company confirmed that they were unhappy with pressure levels “three to four weeks ago” – as trade unions claimed workers’ fears had been “fobbed off”.

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