Licence P236 was awarded as part of the UKCS fourth round in 1972, and the first well on the site was drilled and completed in July 1973 when the Thistle oil field was confirmed as a commercial discovery.
[3] The nearby Deveron field, also produced over the Thistle Alpha platform, was discovered in 1972 following the successful completion of a second well on the site.
The remaining 8 modules situated on the southeast end of the installation contain living quarters (LQ), offices, the central control room (CCR), the helideck and workshops.
To achieve this, a series of major activities have started including initiatives to provide reliable power, improve structural and topsides integrity, upgrade safety and control systems and simplify the platform oil and production and water treatment processes.
These activities are scheduled to run from 2012 to 2015,[16] dependent upon receipt of the UK Government support through the Brown Field Allowance (BFA).
On 21 October 2019 all production on the Thistle Alpha was shut down and the platform was fully evacuated as a precaution following a routine subsea inspection of the jacket's structural condition.
On board at the time were 115 staff, who were removed by in-field and UK Coastguard helicopters to the Dunlin Alpha platform.
[17] In light of the low oil prices associated with the coronavirus pandemic EnQuest decided to cease production on Thistle.