The Forties pipeline system is a pre-eminent pipeline network in the North Sea carrying some 40% of the UK's oil to shore. It is fully owned and operated by BP, who retained the asset after selling off the Forties oilfield to Apache Corp. in 2003. Some 50 assets tie there export lines into the FPS either directly or through intermediate hubs, eventually joining at either Forties Charlie or Forties Unity. FPS consists of a 36" pipeline originating at Apache Corp.'s Forties Charlie platform. The pipeline then carries crude 169km, routing through the Forties Unity riser platform, to the terminal at Cruden Bay. From there, unstabilised crude is carried to the processing facility at Kinneil, Grangemouth.
