Shell had a turbulent 12 months in the North Sea last year.
In January, the company had to halt production at its four Brent platforms after part of one of the installations fell into the sea.
The company had to send 100 workers on Brent Bravo back onshore and shut down the platform – as well as Alpha, Charlie and Delta – after a heavy protective frame collapsed.
Brent Alpha and Brent Bravo resumed production in the summer, but on the day Shell confirmed the restart it had a bigger problem to deal with – an oil leak from another North Sea platform.
The operator faced a storm of criticism for its handling of the spill at Gannet Alpha 112 miles east of Aberdeen in August.
It was accused of playing down the incident after it estimated 120 barrels had been spilled but later revised it to 1,300 barrels – making it the worst North Sea leak in a decade.
