The Brent System carries crude oil from North Sea fields to the Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland.
The Brent System was developed to gather production from the Brent field and connected North Sea infrastructure. Crude oil travels through subsea pipelines to the Sullom Voe terminal, where it can be stored, processed, and loaded for export. The system began operation in the late 1970s as North Sea production expanded.
The name Brent is especially familiar because Brent crude became a major international oil benchmark. The benchmark is not simply a single underground stream of crude today; it is a pricing reference linked to grades and delivery arrangements associated with the North Sea.
A frequent confusion is between the Brent System and the Forties Pipeline System. Forties is another major North Sea gathering and export network, centered on the Forties field and connected facilities. Both are important, but they are distinct systems.