"The five-day-and-counting mega-engineering challenge continues at Total's Well-from-Hell in the North Sea. That name was coined by Frederic Hauge of Bellona, a Norwegian group that monitors the oil industry:

'We estimate the total greenhouse gas potential of the reservoir is roughly 0,56 Gigatonnes CO2 equivalent,' said... Hauge. 'This is based on recoverable resources of 15 billion cubic meters of gas at the West Franklin Field. The pressure in the well is 200-300 bars higher than Macondo [the Deepwater Horizon field]. If no plugging is achieved, this leak is likely to continue for 10-12 years. This is truly the well from hell,' he said."

Julia Whitty reports for Mother Jones March 29, 2011. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Total Sends Fire-Fighting Ships Near N.Sea Gas Leak" (Reuters) [3]

"Total Leak Underlines Offshore Gas Risks" (Wall St. Journal) [4]

"Source Of North Sea Gas Leak Found, Says Total" (Guardian) [5]