Total Locates North Sea Gas Platform Leak

The French energy company that runs a leaking gas platform in the North Sea has identified the location of the leak, as US disaster experts are drafted in to inspect the facility.

A spokeswoman for Total said: "The leak is from a (gas) well that was plugged one year ago, and from a rock formation in about 4,000 metres depth."

The well control specialists, who worked on the Deepwater Horizon rig which caused a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, are flying out to view the stricken Elgin platform from the air.

They will make a video recording of the platform and then study the footage to assess whether or not it is safe to put people on board, a principle objective in the operation to stop the leak.

The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 workers and injuring 16 others. It caused a major oil spill off the Louisiana coast.

The gas is leaking from the platform above sea level, but engineers say it is important to identify the source of the gas before repairing the leak.

Two extra firefighting vessels have joined the existing pair on standby close to the platform in case of an explosion.

Total says the flare at the top of it continues to burn although the flame has become smaller overnight.

It added that the wind continues to blow the leaking gas away from the flame and the forecast indicates that will remain the case for the next few days.

All 238 workers were evacuated from the Elgin platform, 150 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, when toxic, flammable gas started leaking on Sunday.

Other platforms nearby were partially evacuated amid fears that drifting gas could ignite.