Shell Says North Sea Oil Platform Spills Up to 120 Barrels

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) said an oil leak from its Gannet Alpha platform in the North Sea spilled between 12 to 120 barrels and is “under control.”

The company said in a statement that its estimate today is less than an earlier preliminary estimate of as many as 1,000 barrels as it is based on oil volume detected on the surface of the water, “natural dispersion and a better understanding of the spill composition.”

The leak was initially detected when a light sheen on the water was discovered Aug. 10. An inspection by a remote-operated vehicle last night “shows the leak rate has reduced further,” Shell said.

“We continue to expect the oil sheen will be naturally dispersed through wave action and will not reach shore,” Shell said. “A stand-by vessel remains on station with oil spill response equipment and dispersant if required.”

Shell operates the platform, 180 kilometers (112 miles) east of Aberdeen, in waters about 95 meters deep, according to its website. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) is a partner.

To contact the reporter on this story: Barbara J. Powell in Dallas at bpowell4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Theo Mullen in New York at tmullen11@bloomberg.net.