Petroleum industry in Aberdeen

The petroleum industry in Aberdeen, the third most populous city in Scotland, began in the mid-20th century following the discovery of significant oil deposits in the North Sea.

According to The New York Times, the Aberdeen oil industry's success can be partially credited to its role in developing undersea technology for offshore drilling.

[5] The most severe disaster to occur in the region took place in 1988, when the city was dealt a heavy blow by the loss of 167 men during an explosion and fire aboard an offshore rig, the Piper Alpha.

As a result, Aberdeen is expected to have to redevelop itself as a research and development hub, rather than a base for offshore drilling, in order to remain home to the multi-national companies that drive its economy.

In 2021, Scottish businessman Ian Wood noted that crude oil production in Aberdeen now totals at just over a third of its peak of 4.5 million barrels a day (B/D).