What probably happened is this: (remember airlines are run by accountants too)
After an engine problem the crew needed a lower flight level...hence the request to ATC....however, their SOPs state that this is not an emergency and at this stage they havent contacted the company.
Although the crew are 99% they will need to divert...it is the company (ie: the accountants) that decide where is most cost effective (with obviously the crews input from a flight safety stand point).
Until they have the decision from the company it is best to continue enroute.
Obviously the crew would not just beam off over the big blue without significant safety considerations.
In a recent incident I know about....we had an engine failure (4 engines) and continued enroute to Anchorage for an hour before the company asked us to divert to Vancouver (It took an hour for them to find a spare engine that we could snaffle from Air Canada)
Hope this helps......