Flare still alight on gas leak platform in North Sea Gas leaked uncontrolled on Tuesday at an estimated rate of 200,000 cubic metres a day, Mr Hainsworth said, based on the gas plume above the platform. A shipping exclusion zone was in place two miles around the platform, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, and three miles around for aircraft. Firefighting ships were on standby. Total E&P UK, which operates the Elgin platform, said it was taking "all possible measures" to try to identify the source and cause of the leak and to bring it under control. Shell has reduced its workforce on two offshore installations close to the Total platform as a precaution. Around 85 staff have been taken off the company's Shearwater platform and the nearby Noble Hans Deul drilling rig, leaving a workforce of 117 people. Shell also said it has brought forward plans for maintenance at Shearwater and is shutting down production in a "controlled manner." A sheen on the water is present near the platform, estimated to extend over 1.85 square miles and measure between two and 20 tonnes in volume. Total said its preliminary assessments indicate there has been no significant impact on the environment because of the leak. Offshore union RMT welcomed the quick evacuation of the platform but warned there could still be serious consequences. RMT offshore organiser Jake Molloy said: "Total acted very swiftly in getting everyone off but the potential still exists for catastrophic devastation. If the gas cloud somehow finds an ignition source we could be looking at complete destruction. This is an unprecedented situation and we really are in the realms of the unknown but the urgent need now is to find a way of stopping the flow of gas. The Scottish Government said it is monitoring the developments. Total E&P UK said it has met with the Secretary of State's representative, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Energy and Climate change, Marine Scotland and the Coastguard. On Tuesday, Total's shares fell 6pc in Paris, wiping more than €5.5bn (£4.6bn) off the company's value and analysts said a worst-case scenario could see costs for Total running to billions of dollars.