The Forties Pipeline has returned to full operation after being halted for maintenance repairs, following to a crack on its onshore section in Scotland.

INEOS, the owner and operator of the North Sea infrastructure, said all restrictions on the flow of oil and gas from platforms feeding into the system have been lifted, with “virtually all platforms” now back online.

The petrochemical giant added its facility at Kinneil has also restarted – the site includes a gas processing plant and an oil terminal.

The 235-mile pipeline links 85 North Sea oil and gas assets to the UK mainland, delivering nearly 40% of the oil and gas production from the region.

An INEOS spokesperson said: “We apologise to our customers and the local community for the issues that the pipeline closure has created.”