The giant oilfield which gave the Brent crude index its name and kicked off the North Sea boom in the 1970s is closer to being decommissioned after Shell retired two of its remaining three platforms.
The Anglo-Dutch group, which operates the Brent field, said that the two platforms were “no longer economical”, but it added that Brent Alpha and Brent Bravo had “significantly exceeded” their original life expectations after producing oil and gas for more than 35 years.
Having been closed for maintenance since May, the platforms will formally cease production on November 1. Another platform, Brent Delta, was retired at the end of 2011, and Shell said that the remaining platform, Brent Charlie, will follow “in the next few years”.
The Brent field, which