The Auk Oilfield is situated 249 kilometres (155 mi) east, southeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, in block number 30/16.

The oil reservoir is a Rotliegendes sandstone overlaid with Zechstein carbonates and ls located at a depth of 2,316 metres (7,598 ft).

The Auk 'A' platform was a steel, 8 legged jacket designed by Shell Oil and constructed at Methil, Fife, Scotland.

Myles Bowen, Shell's Exploration Manager in 1970, had a keen interest in ornithology and began the naming convention of birds.

The topsides facilities included capability to drill, produce meter and pump oil.