ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore energy regulator says it has received a report from the company that manages Hibernia that about 6,000 litres of crude oil have leaked from the oil platform.

The leak was first reported to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, when about 10 litres of crude spilled from a valve.

The board says the leak, which came from a hose end valve of the northern offshore loading system, stopped Jan. 1.

The board says it will launch a full investigation of the spill and review the methods used by the Hibernia Management and Development Company to estimate the amount of oil that leaked.

ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada and Suncor are the largest shareholders in Hibernia.