Apache Corporation today marks the 50th anniversary of the Forties Field - the first major oil field discovery in the North Sea and a symbol of engineering excellence, resilience, and energy innovation.
Inaugurated on November 3, 1975, by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from bp’s Aberdeen headquarters, the Forties Field heralded a new era for U.K. energy. Under Apache’s stewardship since 2003, the Forties continues to play a vital role in powering the nation.
Located 110 miles east of Aberdeen, the Forties comprises five production platforms - Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo - with Echo completing the field in 1986. Each platform, an engineering feat of its era, was built from 34,000 tonnes of steel, which is four times the amount used in the Eiffel Tower, and towers more than three times the height of London’s Tower Bridge.
Connected by a 107-mile underwater pipeline to Cruden Bay and a further 130-mile link to the Grangemouth Refinery, Forties became the beating heart of U.K. offshore energy infrastructure.
Throughout its history, the Forties Field has captured national attention, welcoming royal visitors, political leaders, and cultural icons. From Princess Diana and His Majesty King Charles to performers like Cilla Black and Bucks Fizz, who famously appeared on The Russell Harty Show broadcast from the Bravo and Charlie platforms, Forties has remained a touchstone of U.K. industrial and cultural heritage.
Since acquiring the field in 2003, Apache has revitalized Forties through strategic investment and innovation. Once expected to cease production around 2010, the field continues to produce energy today, which is testament to Apache’s technical expertise and the commitment of its people.
“When Apache entered the North Sea in 2003, we quickly earned a reputation as bold, fearless, and forward-thinking - a company unafraid to challenge convention and invest ambitiously in the future,” said Greg McDaniel, senior vice president, International Assets. “Today, the Forties Field continues to produce, standing as a lasting symbol of endurance and innovation.”
“It is a true privilege to be part of the Forties story and to celebrate this remarkable 50-year milestone,” McDaniel added. “The field’s longevity is a tribute not only to the outstanding engineering of its time but also to the dedication and ingenuity of generations of people who have sustained it. Then, as now, our people are the driving force behind our success. We have the best team in the business, and we are all deeply honoured to be custodians of the Forties legacy.”
Over five decades, the Forties Field, comprising 133 platform wells, six subsea wells, six topside platforms, and more than 270 kilometres of pipeline, has produced approximately 2.86 billion barrels of oil. Today, it stands as a testament to Scottish grit, industrial excellence, and enduring human spirit.
Forged in steel and powered by people, the Forties Field at 50 remains a true North Sea legend.