TABJ - August 2 - British Petroleum (BP) has been readying to detonate an unexploded device, said to be a bomb, since discovering it on Sunday in the North Sea, off the coast of Peterhead. In doing so, the company has had to shut down a major oil pipeline system, the Forties Pipeline System, as part of a five-day operation. It is reported that the pipeline is responsible for handling 40 per cent of the U.K.’s oil production.

“BP is also taking the opportunity to conduct some important maintenance while the system is shut down. All users of the Forties Pipeline system have been kept regularly informed and are fully aware of the plan,” a BP spokesman told press.

Reports state that the pipeline links at least 30 offshore fields responsible for producing 500,000 barrels per day. The firm had previously asked for assistance from the British Ministry of Defence, but has been told that it is out of the department’s remit.