The major offshore incident has led to concerns over the ageing infrastructure and lack of investment in the North Sea.
The shutdown of the Brent pipeline system on Tuesday has highlighted the challenge facing producers trying to extract the last drops of oil from dwindling mature fields.
Commenting on the closure of the Brent pipeline, Sir Robert Smith, Liberal Democrat MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and member of the Commons energy and climate change select committee, said: “This is another reminder of the importance of maintaining mature assets in the North Sea, especially the key hubs and pipelines that are crucial to UK production.
“If the UK is to retain its high safety and environmental protection standards, and maximise production, it is vital it attracts investment.”
Last year production on Total’s Elgin-Franklin platform was halted following a gas leak which led to the evacuation of the installation. Production remains offline 10 months on.
New investment in British oilfields has been stymied by a lack of clarity around the tax treatment of decommissioning liabilities for North Sea assets.
