Forties Field: The original Cuprion® installation

In 1970, commercially viable oil was discovered by British Petroleum (BP) 110 miles northeast of Aberdeen.

As the oil field, which became known as the Forties, began to take shape, Cathodic Protection Co. Ltd were busy developing the innovative Cuprion® range of anti-fouling solutions. This played an integral part in safeguarding the burgeoning oil field, and still protects the structures from marine growth today.

Read on to find out more about CPCL’s early role in the project, the impact of the Cuprion® and our continued efforts.

A burgeoning industry

The Forties is the oldest and largest oil field in the UK North Sea. Brought on stream in 1975, the offshore field produced more than 41,000 barrels of oil per day, becoming the UK’s second biggest oil field by production in 2013.

At the time, North Sea oil was an emerging industry – today, the field is still operational under the ownership of Apache Oil, and CPCL continues to supply replacement Cuprion® electrode units for the firewater, seawater and cooling water pumps. These systems span the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and more recent Forties Alpha Satellite platforms.

Crucial, long-lasting solutions

From the 1970s to the present day, Cuprion® continues to have an incredible impact in the prevention of biofouling. Since the very first installation at the Forties, CPCL continues to supply systems to many other oil producing regions including Norway, the Arabian Gulf, West Africa, the Indian Ocean and South East Asia.

The longevity of the Cuprion® is testament to the effective, cost-efficient and long-term protections provided. The range includes copper, aluminium and chlorine-based electrolytic systems – tailored to the exact requirements of each project.

The flexibility extends to the various services available, from deck mounted systems integrated into existing infrastructure, to pump mounted options that protect the incoming water at source.

For more information on our projects and services, get in touch with the CPCL team on +44 (0)1476 590666.