Life on board a North Sea oil platform can now be explored from the comfort of your sofa as the world’s first Google Street View tour of an offshore installation has been launched.

The virtual tour of Cygnus, the largest single producing gas field in the North Sea, has been commissioned by operator Neptune Energy and its partner Spirit Energy.

It is the first time Google Street View has ventured to an offshore platform and it allows users to tour Cygnus, click on explanatory notes and watch some of the workforce talk about their jobs and life on a producing North Sea gas installation.

Visitors have the opportunity to experience areas including the helipad, wellhead, control room and accommodation, fitness, leisure and restaurant spaces. Notes provide detailed information on the structure, its role in the UK economy and explanations about life and work offshore.