The Brent field is an oil and gas field located in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea, 186 kilometres (116 mi) north-east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, at the water depth of 140 metres (460 ft). The field, operated by Shell UK Limited, was once one of the most productive parts of the UK's offshore assets but has reached the stage where production is no longer economically viable. Decommissioning of the Brent field is ongoing and will be completed in the early 2020s.
Production started-up on 11 November 1976, and on 13 December 1976 the first tanker was loaded. The Brent field oil is extracted by four platforms in an irregular SSW-NNE line. The first in place was the concrete-legged "Condeep" Brent Bravo in 1975.
The field supplies oil via the Brent System pipeline to the terminal at Sullom Voe, while gas is piped through the FLAGS pipeline ashore at St Fergus on the north-east coast of Scotland.
In June, the Allseas-owned Pioneering Spirit vessel removed the 25,000t Brent Bravo topsides to be scrapped by decommissioning experts Able UK at the Seaton Port, Hartlepool.
My finger wasn't on the pulse back in 2017 when the first one of these; Delta, arrived back on shore and although I marvelled at the reports at the time, I'd long forgotten that the remaining three platforms would be making the same journey in the near future.
Approaching industrial Hartlepool the many works are a spectacle to behold at any time, but particularly in the dark with their none stop operations kicking out gas, steam & all manner of chemicals, and bright lights twinkling as far as the eye can see.
Catching first sight of the rig the sheer size and scale is striking, having been nowhere near one of these things in the past the enormity of what you're about to do hits home; not many people get an oil rig to themselves to climb around on for fun.
Tackling the marshland with its 5ft high grass, reeds and all kinds of horrible tangled thorn bushes with @UrbanDoll was an absolute nightmare. Scouting the lights and cameras from a distance we had a route planned once we were inside the perimeter fence. Able are well on with their job and since @Olkka and the lads cracking first effort the helipad and much of the clean areas, living quarters, medical spaces and canteen have been chopped to bits. Nevertheless there was still lots to see, navigating the metal warrens of the bowels of the rig admittedly without knowing what half of the machinery does!
This is one of those type of explores that are made of pure experience, the smells of the sea and old oil still clinging to the rusting hulk, I'll definitely be back for more...
Production started-up on 11 November 1976, and on 13 December 1976 the first tanker was loaded. The Brent field oil is extracted by four platforms in an irregular SSW-NNE line. The first in place was the concrete-legged "Condeep" Brent Bravo in 1975.
The field supplies oil via the Brent System pipeline to the terminal at Sullom Voe, while gas is piped through the FLAGS pipeline ashore at St Fergus on the north-east coast of Scotland.
In June, the Allseas-owned Pioneering Spirit vessel removed the 25,000t Brent Bravo topsides to be scrapped by decommissioning experts Able UK at the Seaton Port, Hartlepool.
My finger wasn't on the pulse back in 2017 when the first one of these; Delta, arrived back on shore and although I marvelled at the reports at the time, I'd long forgotten that the remaining three platforms would be making the same journey in the near future.
Approaching industrial Hartlepool the many works are a spectacle to behold at any time, but particularly in the dark with their none stop operations kicking out gas, steam & all manner of chemicals, and bright lights twinkling as far as the eye can see.
Catching first sight of the rig the sheer size and scale is striking, having been nowhere near one of these things in the past the enormity of what you're about to do hits home; not many people get an oil rig to themselves to climb around on for fun.
Tackling the marshland with its 5ft high grass, reeds and all kinds of horrible tangled thorn bushes with @UrbanDoll was an absolute nightmare. Scouting the lights and cameras from a distance we had a route planned once we were inside the perimeter fence. Able are well on with their job and since @Olkka and the lads cracking first effort the helipad and much of the clean areas, living quarters, medical spaces and canteen have been chopped to bits. Nevertheless there was still lots to see, navigating the metal warrens of the bowels of the rig admittedly without knowing what half of the machinery does!
This is one of those type of explores that are made of pure experience, the smells of the sea and old oil still clinging to the rusting hulk, I'll definitely be back for more...
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