Page 18: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Sep/Oct 2015)

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Forty

Field of View and still ‘a beaut’ 40 years of OE

Photo by Paul Thomson.

in April 1970 “there won’t be

For OE, 2015 is a milestone oil there.” th

Nevertheless, BP held out year – it’s our 40 anniversary. and in October 1970, the Sea

We share that milestone with

Quest semisubmersible drill- one of the world’s most iconic ing rig discovered Forties, in the South Viking Graben, oil ? elds – the UK North Sea 110mi east of Aberdeen, in

Forties ? eld. Elaine Maslin 350ft water depth, with some 4.2-5 billion bbl in place. charts the ? eld’s history and “This was a huge boost to ? nds out what the future holds.

the UK at the time,” Towart says. “Forties (named after orties is no ordinary oil ? eld. the sea area it sits in) and

In fact, for some, Forties is an some ? elds discovered shortly

F individual – a ? eld with charac- after squarely put the North ter, personality and presence. For Apache Sea on the map as a major oil operations director Bob Davenport, “she’s province. Forties really kicked a beaut” and, while she’s 40 years old, off the offshore North Sea oil she sits as the third largest oil producer industry.” on the UK Continental Shelf, with plenty 1975 start-up of life left in her.

Concluding his presentation on the After a frenzy of construction

Sea Quest’s discovery was celebrated with a cake 40-year-old ? eld at the DEVEX confer- activity, production started in which took 700 hours to make. Photo from BP.

ence in Aberdeen earlier this year, Jeff September 1975, from Forties

Towart, Apache’s North Sea region there was a push northwards [for oil]. Alpha (initially known as Graythorp I) exploitation manager said, “In 10 years’ But, by the end of the 1960s, the industry platform, ? owing to shore in November – time, someone will be presenting ‘Forties was getting a bit disheartened with some an occasion marked by Queen Elizabeth hits 50,’ and it will still be going strong.” of the disappointing results up there.” II. Forties Alpha was the ? rst oil platform

In fact, in 1969, renowned geologist installed on the UK Continental Shelf.

A basin opener

Miles Bowen was quoted as saying all Brown & Root was the main contrac-

Forties’ reputation comes not just from the worthwhile gas ? elds in the southern tor, and by the end of 1975, the ? rst its sheer size. The central North Sea ? eld North Sea had been found, while the four Forties platforms were installed: was discovered at a time when many had search for oil in the North was doomed Alpha, Bravo (which was known at the about given up on the North Sea. “Back for failure, Towart says. Bowen wasn’t time as Graythorp II), Charlie and Delta, in the 1960s, gas had been found in the alone in holding that view and even Sir (which were known as Highland I and II, southern gas basin,” Towart says. “Then Eric Drake, BP’s chairman and CEO, said respectively). The Graythorps were built

September 2015 | OE oedigital.com 20 020_OE0915_Field of View.indd 20 8/19/15 8:53 PM