Total makes 'key milestone' visit to Elgin gas leak platform Three Total employees and five specialists from Wild Well Control - the company that helped BP to end the Gulf of Mexico oil spill - flew to the platform, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, by helicopter. The mission had been delayed by wind conditions, with Total having to wait until the cloud of flammable methane gas was being blown away from where the helicopter would land. Total said that the team left Aberdeen at 10.30am and returned safely at 4.50pm, having spent nearly four hours on the Elgin complex. They gathered data on the leaking G4 well and other information to help prepare for an operation to "kill" the well by pumping heavy mud into it. The kill operation could take weeks and Total is also preparing to begin drilling two relief wells, which could take six months.