North Sea operator TAQA has ended production at its North Cormorant platform ahead of its decommissioning after 42 years of operations.

Posting on social media, TAQA offshore installation manager Mike McDonald said the North Cormorant platform ceased producing at 07:45am on Saturday, 22 June.

Gary Gray, the longest-serving crew member on the North Cormorant, was given the honour of closing in the last well to signify the milestone, Mr McDonald said.

The North Cormorant first produced oil on the 14 February, 1982, delivering 641 million barrels of oil from fields including Causeway, Fionn, Otter and the Eider.

Mr McDonald said the TAQA team today closed the production phase of its operation on North Cormorant and transitioned to the “de-energisation and disembarkation” stage”.

It comes as the Emirati state-owned oil company ramps up its decommissioning activity as it prepares to reach COP at all of its UK North Sea platforms by the end of 2027.

Elsewhere, TAQA is also progressing decommissioning work at its Harding, Cormorant Alpha and Brae Alpha platforms.

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