Shell has been ordered to pay a £560,000 fine after a significant hydrocarbon leak on its Brent Charlie platform was traced to long-term failures in maintaining key pipework.

The incident, which occurred on May 19, 2017, involved the escape of gas and crude oil from corroded pipework inside one of the platform’s concrete support legs. Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a section of return oil line pipework had been left in place for seven years despite being intended only for short-term use.

According to HSE, neglecting the pipework created conditions that could have triggered a major explosion. Ventilation systems that were supposed to reduce the impact of escaped gas were also found to be in poor condition due to missed maintenance. In total, about 200kg of gas and more than 1,500kg of crude oil were released — the largest hydrocarbon discharge reported to regulators that year.

Officials said 176 workers on the platform were exposed to danger, though the likelihood of ignition was assessed as low. Quick action by the platform manager and emergency teams helped stop the situation from escalating.

Shell UK pleaded guilty to two breaches of offshore safety regulations at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. The court was told that weaknesses in the company’s safety management system contributed to the failure to inspect and remove the temporary pipework as originally planned.

Sheriff Ian Duguid imposed the £560,000 penalty after considering the company’s cooperation and other mitigating factors.

HSE inspector Dozie Azubike said the case underlines the need for offshore operators to routinely review how temporary equipment is tracked, inspected, and removed. He warned that while serious hydrocarbon leaks are declining across the industry, several incidents each year still have the potential to cause catastrophic harm if ignition occurs.