The Department of Energy and Climate Change said last night that output fell 17.4% compared with 2010, to average 52 million tonnes (381.2 million barrels), the lowest level of production since the 1970s.
A spokesman said: "This decrease stems from a number of unexpected slowdowns... as well as a general decline in UK production from established fields."
North Sea oil output peaked at more than 2.7 million barrels per day in 1999 and has been on a downward trend since 2000.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13052466.warning-north-sea-oil-output-falls-off/