Brent Delta Oil Production Platform

Brent Delta Oil Platform

Brent Delta was one of four oil production platforms servicing the Brent oilfield off the coast of Scotland from 1977 until 2016.

Visited July 2017  UK Hartlepool, UK Brought onshore for decommissioning and dismantling

The Brent oil field, off the north-east coast of Scotland is one of the largest fields in the North Sea. Discovered in 1971, it was one of the most significant oil and gas finds made in the UK sector. Brent field production peaked in 1982 when over half a million barrels of oil and 26 million cubic meters of gas were produced… every day!

The Brent oil field was served by four large platforms owned by Shell – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. Each platform has a ‘topside’ which is visible above the waterline and houses the accommodation block, helipad, as well as drilling and other operational areas. The topsides sit on much taller supporting structures, or ‘legs’, which stand in 140 metres of water and serve to anchor the topsides to the sea bed.

Brent Delta Platform after being brought ashore in Hartlepool
Brent Delta Platform after being brought ashore in Hartlepool

By 1976 Brent Bravo had started production, and later that year the second platform, Brent Delta was installed, which started production in 1977. Delta weighed 24,000 tonnes (the same as 2,000 London busses!) and the platform alone was as tall as the London Eye.

The Brent field has reached the stage where production is no longer economically viable and decommissioning is underway. In 2011 Brent Delta stopped production. After 5 years of planning and 2 years of preparations, the entire Brent Delta platform was cut free from its supporting legs and brought ashore in one piece, where it will be dismantled and scrapped.

Brent Daeta - On the helipad
Brent Delta – On the helipad
Brent Delta - View across the deck with the derrick and flare stack towering above
Brent Delta – View across the deck with the derrick and flare stack towering above
Brent Delta - More detailed view of the topdeck, where drilling activities were carried out
Brent Delta – More detailed view of the topdeck, where drilling activities were carried out
Brent Delta - View across the deck
Brent Delta – View across the deck
Brent Delta - View in the other direction towards the crane
Brent Delta – View in the other direction towards the crane
Brent Delta - Derrick and flare stack
Brent Delta – Derrick and flare stack
 
Brent Delta - View up the derrick
Brent Delta – View up the derrick
Brent Delta - On the top deck where the drilling happened
Brent Delta – On the top deck where the drilling happened
Brent Delta - Hook and winch equipment
Brent Delta – Hook and winch equipment
Brent Delta - The "doghouse" where drilling operations were controlled
Brent Delta – The “doghouse” where drilling operations were controlled
Brent Delta - Heading below deck we find a workshop
Brent Delta – Heading below deck we find a workshop
Brent Delta - And various plant rooms
Brent Delta – And various plant rooms
Brent Delta - Another room full of equipment
Brent Delta – Another room full of equipment
Brent Delta - There were various rooms for deployment of workers
Brent Delta – There were various rooms for deployment of workers
Brent Delta - An office or command room
Brent Delta – An office or command room
Brent Delta - Sick bay
Brent Delta – Sick bay
Brent Delta - The workers accommodation was pretty basic
Brent Delta – The workers accommodation was pretty basic
Brent Delta - Central control room
Brent Delta – Central control room
Brent Delta - Central control room
Brent Delta – Central control room
Brent Delta - The engine room was tucked away below the accommodation block
Brent Delta – The engine room was tucked away below the accommodation block
Brent Delta - Between the engines
Brent Delta – Between the engines
Brent Delta - One of the emergency lifeboats
Brent Delta – One of the emergency lifeboats
Brent Delta - sign on the side of the platform
Brent Delta – sign on the side of the platform
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