A leak from the BP drilling platform off the coast of the South Shore of Nova Scotia has stopped work at the site.
The rig, West Aquarius was drilling test wells Friday when a discharge of synthetic based drilling mud was detected.
The Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board says roughly 136 000 litres of the substance was spilled into the ocean before the leak was stopped.
It appears to have come from piping that is part of the mud system about 30 metres below sea level.
Synthetic based mud is a heavy, dense fluid used during drilling to lubricate the drill pipe and overbalance reservoir pressure.
Crews have launched a remote controlled vehicle into the water to investigate.
Drilling is suspended until a cause can be determined.
The CNSOPB has sent two officers and a drilling engineer offshore to investigate. Drilling operations are suspended and will not resume until BP Canada receives approval from the CNSOPB that it may proceed. We will continue to provide information updates as they become available.
— CNSOPB (@CNSOPB) June 23, 2018
