Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) said yesterday that it plans to start decommissioning the Ninian North platform in June 2017.
Calgary-based CNR submitted its draft decommissioning programme for the rig to the UK Government earlier this year.
Ninian North is one of three platforms on the field, which lies about 240 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
CNR bought the Ninian field from Kerr-McGee in 2002 in what was its debut North Sea deal.
North Sea crude oil production at CNR totalled 23,042 barrels per day during the first quarter of 2017, down 1% year-on-year.
The company’s North Sea oil operating costs were slashed by 23% to $36.86 per barrel.
CRN returned to black in the first three months of this year, notching up pre-tax profits of £188million.
It recorded a deficit of £264million in the same period a year ago.
Revenues rose by 67% to £2billion.
Meanwhile, profits soared at Statoil in the first quarter of 2017 as the company benefitted from higher oil prices and increased production.
It chalked up pre-tax profits of £3.1billion, up 139% year-on-year, on revenues of £12billion.
The firm said the “significant increase in liquids prices” was “the main cause” for the upturn, though solid operational performance was also cited as a factor.
Statoil expects the topside modules for the £4.5billion North Sea Mariner development to set sail from South Korea in the first half of 2017 with first oil to follow in 2018.
The Norwegian firm operates and holds 65.11% of Mariner, east of Shetland.