Total starts new production in North Sea

Production from a natural gas field in the northern reaches of the North Sea has reached 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, Total said. French supermajor Total announced first production from its Islay natural gas field, about 275 northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland. The field is in water depths of around 390 feet and has estimated reserves of around 17 million barrels of oil equivalent. It\'s already reached its expected production rate of 15,000 boe per day, the French company said. Total in March discovered a natural gas leak at its Elgin platform about 150 miles off the coast of Aberdeen. Natural gas is leaking from above the water\'s surface at a rate of around 2.1 million cubic feet per day. The British government announced it gave consent to Total to drill a relief well to control the leak. No major environmental damage is expected from the accident and Total said that, because the Elgin platform is so far offshore, the natural gas cloud can\'t reach land.