Recycling of the last part of a huge oil rig is underway as a major decommissioning project nears its end.

The final 9,000‑tonne structural section of the Brent Charlie platform is being broken up at Able Seaton Port (ASP), in Hartlepool, after being safely lowered to the quayside last month.

It marked the start of the final chapter of the decommissioning of Shell’s North Sea Brent oilfield which began back in 2013.

The 31,000‑tonne Brent Charlie arrived at Able in summer 2024 after Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit vessel removed the topsides in the largest offshore lift ever recorded.

The final section of the Brent Charlie topside being recycled at Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool.

placeholder image — The final section of the Brent Charlie topside being recycled at Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool.

It completed the removal of all four Brent topsides with nearly 100,000 tonnes delivered to Able at Graythorp for final dismantling.

Able stated: "The onshore dismantling operations at Able Seaton Port have been critical to this multiyear project, enabling safer, more controlled and more environmentally responsible processing of some of the North Sea’s largest industrial structures.

“The final major structural element – a 9,000‑tonne section, required a meticulously engineered demolition sequence, all carried out by ABLE’s own technical and operational teams."

A specialist team of nine people were involved in carrying out the demolition of the section which involved carefully cutting it into pieces.

Thanks to Hartlepool resident Charles Keeton who took this picture of the final section of the Brent Charlie platform, centre, which also captures the region's role in the wind and nuclear power industries.

It was followed by a simultaneous final cut of the outer two trusses to bring the whole 9,000‑tonne structure crashing down on to a prepared landing bed.

Able added: “This process demonstrates ASP’s capacity not only for heavy industrial handling but also for high‑precision structural engineering, executed fully within Able’s own workforce and equipment capabilities.

"With the final 9,000‑tonne drop complete, the Brent Charlie dismantling phase transitions toward full material recovery, continuing ASP’s strong legacy of achieving recycling rates above 97%.

“This last operation is more than the end of a platform – it is the culmination of a pioneering collaboration, a showcase of engineering excellence, and a statement about the capability and skill thriving within Able’s workforce.

Discovered in 1971, the Brent oil field became one of the most productive in the UK, at one point generating over half a million barrels of oil a day amounting to around three billion barrels during its lifespan.