THE first big oilfield to operate in the British sector of the North

Sea celebrates 20 years of production today -- a birthday it was never

expected to reach.

When the giant Forties complex started pumping crude oil from below

the seabed, it was expected to run dry in commercial terms by 1992.

But, with the aid of developments in technology, operators BP have

pushed the expected life of the country's biggest single oilfield beyond

the year 2000.

The field asset manager, Mr John Mogford, said: ''It would be nice if

Forties got to 40. It is certainly realistic to say it should have a

30th birthday.''

Each of the four main production platforms in Forties contains four

times more steel than the Eiffel Tower and each is big enough to

encapsulate almost the whole of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Forties has now given up some 92% of its recoverable reserves of oil,

generating more than #18bn in oil revenue for the UK.

Today's milestone is being marked in Aberdeen with a celebration meal

for dignitaries but it will be business as usual for the 600 men and

women working out in the field.

They and the other 600 Forties workers with whom they alternate will

each have a bottle of 20-year-old malt whisky delivered to their homes.