Oil spill 26 miles from Macondo

Shell has reported a leak from an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, only 26 miles from BP's Macondo well.

The spill is reported to be 319 barrels (11,000 UK gallons). Shell has commented that most of the liquid is 'drilling fluid' and would not have any 'significant impact on the environment', after initial coastguard reports suggested 180 barrels of oil could have been contained in the spill.

Shell has temporarily abandoned drilling at the Transocean's Deepwater Nautilus rig at the Appomattox discovery. The leak has now been stopped.

A Shell spokesman said: "Shell can confirm it has a loss of 319 barrels of drilling fluid from a booster line.

"The leak was isolated, stopped and remedial action has been approved by the regulator (BSEE); this includes temporarily abandoning the well, pulling the riser and making appropriate repairs. The drilling mud used is synthetic and biodegradable.”