The next step will be for the safety regulator to submit a report to the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, the agency that will decide if Total should face prosecution.

The HSE said: “We are continuing to analyse the evidence obtained during our investigation into the incident at Elgin-Franklin. “This will enable us, as is routine for HSE investigations in Scotland, to compile a report for the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service.”

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