Talisman Auk Platform – Inside a 40-Year-Old North Sea Oil Rig

The Auk Oilfield sits 249 kilometres east-southeast of Aberdeen in the UK sector of the North Sea, in 182 metres of water. Originally operated by Shell UK in partnership with ESSO, the field was acquired by Talisman Energy in 2006. Production first started in December 1975 from the Auk 'A' platform — a steel eight-legged jacket designed by Shell and constructed at Methil in Fife, Scotland. The jacket weighs 3,414 tonnes and supports a topside weight of around 8,000 tonnes.

13 Talisman Auk north sea oil and gas platform plans drawing

Drawing courtesy of google images

By the time these photographs were taken, the platform was approaching its 40th year of operation. That history shows in the structure — worn surfaces, layered pipework, and accommodation that belongs to a different era of North Sea development.

Getting There

Access was by helicopter from Aberdeen, departing from the Bristow terminal. The flight out gives you the first sense of scale — a small steel structure surrounded by open water, then suddenly filling the window as you come in to land.

15 Aberdeen offshore oil and gas Helicopter taxi for the industry

Our transport to the platform, ready for action.

17 Hot Work Spark potential permit to work ISSOW Draggar gas monitor meter

Working Offshore — Permit to Work

Photography offshore is tightly controlled for good reason. Every task requires a permit to work, and any work near potential ignition sources requires gas testing with a calibrated detector. That process keeps everyone safe and keeps the operation running — it also means any images taken are genuinely earned rather than snapped casually.

18 Talisman Auk platform flare on the pipe deck north sea oil price equal rotation down man redundancies

Rope Access Operations

Several of the images show IRATA-trained rope access technicians working at height — climbing to work fronts, carrying out electrical inspections, and accessing areas of the platform that would otherwise require scaffolding. The SKN Electrical team on this rotation were using rope access throughout, keeping the work efficient and the footprint small.

19 offshore north sea oil and gas workers working hard at the computer in the office

Platform Life

The accommodation on a 40-year-old platform reflects its age — functional, compact, and lived-in. Between shifts, the crew room and bunks are the reset point before another 12-hour day. There's a particular kind of quiet offshore that doesn't exist anywhere else.

20 IRATA industrial rope access techniques being used to work at height safely

One final note on the name: the Auk field is named after the auk family of seabirds. There's a long-standing story that the field was originally going to be called A UK — as the first British oilfield — until someone pointed out that the sixth field in the sequence would be called F UK. Shell rapidly moved to a seabird naming policy. Their sixth UK oilfield is called Fulmar.

For more photography from offshore oil and gas projects, visit the Oil & Gas portfolio.

21 SKN electrical abseiler working at height IRATA

22 Electrical worker repairing a light fitting on an oil rig offshore in the north sea

23 Oil and gas workforce on a tea break smoking drinking coffee

24 Auk Oil rig platform Talisman TV lounge workers watching tv

Off shift movie time.

40 year old ensuite rooms.

26 Talisman Auk gas rig accommodation room bunk bed north sea oil rig price

Bunks fit for a king.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks, Lee

Talisman Auk north sea oil rig - part 2.

Talisman 40 year old north sea oil rig - Auk