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Penguins: Next generation platform starts production in the UK North Sea

More compact and efficient than its predecessor, Penguins will deliver secure energy from one of the North Sea’s most iconic oil and gas fields.

February 4, 2025

Read time: 2 mins

An engineering marvel reduces costs and emissions

The new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel is one of the most technologically advanced platforms operated by Shell in the North Sea.

Penguins in numbers

45,000

barrels of oil equivalent a day expected peak production.

700,000

UK homes could be heated for a year with the gas that Penguins will produce when fully up and running.

30%

lower operational emissions compared with its predecessor Brent Charlie.

Providing the energy the world needs today

The Penguins FPSO will contribute towards Shell's commitment to bring on line projects with a total peak production of more than 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day from 2023 through 2025.

Read media release
Penguins is owned by Shell (50%) and NEO Energy (50%) and is operated by Shell.
Penguins is owned by Shell (50%) and NEO Energy (50%) and is operated by Shell.

Zoom in on Penguins

Map
  • Penguins is the first, new Shell-operated facility in the UK North Sea for over 20 years. It will be a source of secure domestic energy production, keeping homes and businesses running in the UK and beyond.
  • The Penguins field lies beneath 165 metres (541 feet) of water, around 241 kilometres (150 miles) north-east of the Shetland Islands.
  • Natural gas produced by Penguins will be exported through the existing pipeline to the St Fergus terminal in north-east Scotland. Oil will be transported by tankers to refineries outside of the UK.

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