industrial

Setting sun in the North Sea.

01 Safe Boreas, Prosafe, accommodation vessel, north sea, oil and gas, flotel, flotation, living, hotel, industrial, photographer, Lee Ramsden.jpg

Hello,

Today i would like to share some images of the setting sun in the North sea.

I have been lucky in my time offshore to see some amazing weather.

A spectacular sun rise, or setting sun in the middle of the sea is something really magical.

02 Safe Boreas, Prosafe, accommodation vessel, north sea, oil and gas, flotel, flotation, living, hotel, industrial, photographer, Lee Ramsden.jpg
03 Safe Boreas, Prosafe, accommodation vessel, north sea, oil and gas, flotel, flotation, living, hotel, industrial, photographer, Lee Ramsden.jpg

I hope that you have a good weekend.

Lee

Saipem S7000

S7000, duel crane, heavy lifting, offshore, oil and gas

The Saipem S7000 arrives. 

With its state-of-the-art J-lay tower, upgraded dynamic positioning capability and fast ballasting system, the Saipem 7000 semisubmersible crane vessel has the capacity to handle the entire workscope of offshore construction developments worldwide, encompassing pipelaying in water depths greater than 2,000 metres and heavy lift operations up to 14,000 tonnes.

 

The vessel’s Class 3 DP system of 12 thrusters ensures that the vessel maintains good station keeping in the most difficult of weather conditions. Additionally, because the Saipem 7000 has accommodation facilities up to 725 people, the vessel can assist hook-up and commissioning as well as initial platform life support activities.

Altogether, this high specification means that the Saipem 7000 can be counted on to provide the highest level of reliability for conventional, deep and ultradeep water development projects.

Saipem, 7000, industrial, oil and gas, crane

VESSEL FEATURES

Length overall 197.95 m

Upper platform 175 m x 87 m x 8.5 m

Lower pontoons 165 m x 33 m x 11.25/15.25 m

Depth to main deck 43.5 m

Free deck area 9,000 sq.m

Deck load 15,000 tonnes

Operating draft 27.5 m

Survival draft 18.5 m

Transit draft 10.5 m

Transit speed 9.5 knots

Saipem, S7000, heavy lifting, vessel
blog, Saipem S7000, heavy lifting vessel, Norway, Stavanger
blog, Saipem s7000, taking image on iphone

Offshore rope access technicians.

blog, Industrial, rope access, IRATA, trade, offshore, oil and gas, safety, acredited, HSE, health and safety, working at height, WAH, photographer Lee Ramsden

Hello, 

Today id like to show some of the IRATA rope access technicians that were involved in the decommissioning of the BP Miller. 

blog, rope access, selective colour, IRATA, abseiler, offshore, oil and gas industry, under deck, BP Miller, BP, Petrofac, ACN, Saipem, Lee Ramsden

Welding on dead weight supports to the risers. 

Blog, welding on the ropes, rope access, IRATA, abseiling, industrial, lee ramsden, BP Miller, oil and gas rig, north sea, offshore, employment, redundancies, oil and gas industry, BP, Petrofac

Rope access welder cutting a riser. 

rope access, IRATA, technician, PETROFAC, north sea, oil and gas industry, abseiler, climbing, rope, industrial, Lee Ramsden.

Long tiring climb back up. 

Happy rope technicians, rope access, IRATA, working at height, oil and gas industry, industrial photographer, Lee Ramsden

Rope techs at height happy in their work. 

Oil and gas industry Tool box talks.

oil and gas, tool box talk, TBT, industrial, job brief,

Above is a supervisor conducting a tool box talk with his team, on the task in hand. 

 

A Toolbox Talk is an informal safety meeting that focuses on safety topics related to the specific job, such as workplace hazards and safe work practices. Meetings are normally short in duration and are generally conducted at the job site prior to the commencement of a job or work shift. It is one of the very effective methods to refresh workers' knowledge, cover last minute safety checks, and exchange information with the experienced workers. Toolbox Talks are also intended to facilitate health and safety discussions on the job site and promote the organization’s safety culture. 

Fire team emergency response exercise.

blog, Fire team, fire chief, weekly, excercise, drill, muster, practice, oil and gas industry, industrial, firemen, rig, platform, BP Miller, Petrofac, Lee Ramsden 01

Hello, 

Following on from last weeks post, today we see the Emergency response team practicing if there was an emergency inside the accommodation. 

Above is the fire team leader, his role here is directing his fire team, maintaining communications between his team, and the platform control room. 

Emergency response, exercise, breifing, offshore,, oil and gas

The O.I.M setting the scene, and briefing the emergency fire team.  

For exercise - there has been indication of smoke inside the accommodation. 

fire team leader, FLT, offshore, oil and gas, industrail, fire man, firefighter, briefing

Fire team leader, briefing his team on a suspected accommodation fire indicated on the panel. 

blog, Fire team, weekly, excercise, drill, muster, practice, oil and gas industry, industrial, firemen, rig, platform, BP Miller, Petrofac, Lee Ramsden 02

Fire team, updating the leader with information. 

fire men, accomodation fire, exercise, drill, practice, door technique, door drills, back of hand, testing, Jim Coyle, James Coyle, north sea, offshore, oil and gas industry, photo by, Lee Ramsden

Fire team, practicing safe fire door drills. 

Emergency response, exercise, breifing, offshore,, oil and gas

O.I.M and his Deputy, reading through the Emergency response plan.

Emergency response, exercise, breifing, offshore,, oil and gas

O.I.M updating the platform personnel, on the situation. The deputy O.I.M calling the coast guard, for exercise purposes informing them of our drill, and establishing helicopter response times.

Emergency response, exercise, breifing, offshore,, oil and gas

The scribe, updates relevant information, like wind direction and sea conditions incase we needed to evacuate. 

Highest point in the north sea.

blog, Flare view, heighest point, in the, north sea, 162m, BP Miller, oil, gas, rig, platform, Aberdeen, BP,Petrofac, Saipem, Lee Ramsden industrial photographer

The BP Miller, has the tallest flare stack in the North Sea, at 162m high, 

(4m taller than Blackpool tower)

blog, Flare view, rope access, IRATA, industiral, technicians, top of BP Miller, danny king, Petrofac, BP, Saipem, ACN, Steve thorogood, Lee Ramsden, photographer, photography.

Caught our breath back, after a lung busted 15 ladder climb. 

blog, Flare view, pointing, rope access, IRATA, industiral, top of BP Miller, danny king Petrofac, BP, Saipem, ACN, working at height.
blog, Marathon oil, brae Alpha platform, Lee Ramsden, occupational, photography, photographer, industrial, oil and gas, industry

Image of the Brae Bravo platform, from the top of BP Miller flare. 

25 years of rust, in the North sea.

 

 

Here, are two images 25 years apart. 

The images are of the "pig launchers", on the cellar deck of the BP Miller platform,

one while the platform was being commissioned, and put together,

and the second, while decommissioning.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Lee

Offshore, oil and gas rig catering crew.

blog, Catering, chef, campboss, hotel manager, incharge, cooks, kitchen, working, industrial, aramark, offshore, north sea, BP Miller, Petrofac, hotel, Photo by Lee Ramsden.

 

Today we meet, the small team involved in feeding and looking after all 80 workers, on a North Sea oil and gas platform. 

These guys do a fantastic job, with such a small team in cleaning, preparing meals and trying to keep moral high for a large crew of guys. Who are working hard in all weathers, away from home for long periods, missing their families.

It is un-measurable their involvement, but any rig worker will tell you, that a clean accommodation and a good hearty meal, makes for a happy crew. 

blog, Catering, steward, Stan Macintosh, aramark, offshore, north sea, cleaning, cleaner, hospitality, oil rig, BP Miller, Petrofac, hotel, Photo by Lee Ramsden.
blog Catering, chefs, cooks, kitchen, working, industrial, aramark, offshore, north sea, hospitality, oil rig, BP Miller, Petrofac, hotel, Photo by Lee Ramsden.
oil and gas, sunday roast beef, yorkshire pudding, carvary, chef, offshore, north sea, Ronnie Lambert, portrait, by, Lee Ramsden

Roast beef, and Yorkshire puddings... must be Sunday! 

People, made out of food

 

Thanks

 

Lee

 

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Rig removal. North sea.

blog, Rig burning, welding, oxygen, acetylene, cutting, BP Miller, Decommissioning, industrial, removal, Saipem, Petrofac, BP, Lee Ramsden, hotwork 01
Blog, welding on the ropes, rope access, IRATA, abseiling, industrial, lee ramsden, BP Miller, oil and gas rig, north sea, offshore, employment, redundancies, oil and gas industry, BP, Petrofac
blog, Rig burning, welding, oxygen, acetylene, cutting, BP Miller, Decommissioning, industrial, removal, Saipem, Petrofac, BP, Lee Ramsden, hotwork 02
blog, Rig burning, welding, oxygen, acetylene, cutting, BP Miller, Decommissioning, industrial, removal, Saipem, Petrofac, BP, Lee Ramsden, hotwork 03
BP Miller, decommissioning, Petrofac, Saipem, BP, buring, oxygen, acetylene, rig removal, industrial, north sea, photo taken by Lee Ramsden
BP Miller, decommissioning, Petrofac, Saipem, BP, buring, oxygen, acetylene, rig removal, cutting, burning,  industrial, north sea, photo taken by Lee Ramsden
BP Miller, decommissioning, Petrofac, Saipem, barries, chain, lifting, crane, steel beam, BP, buring, oxygen, acetylene, rig removal, industrial, north sea, photo taken by Lee Ramsden

North sea oil and gas rig.

blog, Flare view, heighest point, in the, north sea, 162m, BP Miller, oil, gas, rig, platform, Aberdeen, BP,Petrofac, Saipem, Lee Ramsden industrial photographer
blog, Rig burning, welding, oxygen, acetylene, cutting, BP Miller, Decommissioning, industrial, removal, Saipem, Petrofac, BP, Lee Ramsden, hotwork 01
S7000 north sea, lifting vessel, Saipem, italian
Lifting vessel, heavy, 14 thousand tonnes, S7000, Saipem
Saipem 7000, heavy lifting, vessel

Talisman 40 year old north sea oil rig - Auk

The Auk Oilfield is situated 249 kilometres (155 mi) east, southeast of Aberdeen, Scotland. It was operated by Shell UK in 50% partnership with ESSO until October 2006 when it was bought by Talisman Energy, and is now licensed by Talisman Energy. It was discovered in October 1970 in a water depth of 182 metres.

13 Talisman Auk north sea oil and gas platform plans drawing

Drawing courtesy of google images

Production started in December 1975 from the Auk 'A' platform. This platform is a steel, 8 legged jacket designed by Shell Oil and constructed at Methyl Fife Scotland. This jacket weighs 3,414 tonnes and support a topside weight of around 8,000 tonnes.

14 Aberdeen airport Bristow Departures

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/125 ISO200

Helicopter Departures.

15 Aberdeen offshore oil and gas Helicopter taxi for the industry

Fuji film X-T1  f5.6 1/125 ISO200

Our transport to the platform, ready for action. 

17 Hot Work Spark potential permit to work ISSOW Draggar gas monitor meter

Fuji film X-T1  f2.8 1/125 ISO800

For me to be able to take picture offshore, it is well controlled. Permit to work, and gas tests are required. 

18 Talisman Auk platform flare on the pipe deck north sea oil price equal rotation down man redundancies

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/60 ISO800

Flaring off excess gas. 

19 offshore north sea oil and gas workers working hard at the computer in the office

Fuji film X-T1  f3.6 1/60 ISO800

Our office, where the magic happens. 

20 IRATA industrial rope access techniques being used to work at height safely

Fuji film X-T1  f2.8 1/60 ISO800

Technician climbing to his work front. We use IRATA - industrial rope access techniques and procedures to work at height safely. 

21 SKN electrical abseiler working at height IRATA

Fuji film X-T1  f1.6 1/60 ISO800

SKN electrical technician.

22 Electrical worker repairing a light fitting on an oil rig offshore in the north sea

Fuji film X-T1  f1.6 1/80 ISO800

Electrical inspections being carried out. 

23 Oil and gas workforce on a tea break smoking drinking coffee

Fuji film X-T1  f4 1/60 ISO800

After all that climbing, a cup of tea is required. 

24 Auk Oil rig platform Talisman TV lounge workers watching tv

Fuji film X-T1  f2.8 1/60 ISO800

Off shift movie time. 

25 Auk oil gas rig room and shower

Fuji film X-T1  f2.8 1/60 ISO1250

40 year old ensuite rooms. 

26 Talisman Auk gas rig accommodation room bunk bed north sea oil rig price

Fuji film X-T1  f3.2 1/60 ISO1250

Bunks fit for a king.

 

A fact which i found funny - The field is named after the Auk a family of sea birds. There is a legend that it was to be called A UK, as the first British oilfield, until somebody realised that the sixth field would be called F UK and Shell's policy was rapidly changed to name their fields after sea birds. Shells sixth UK oilfield is called Fulmar.

 

 

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

 

Thanks

 

IRATA rope access training course.

IRATA rope access ropes climbing Blackpool Training TALLON TALON NDT Harness offshore oil and gas north sea 02

Big apologies for not having a post for some time now, 

with work, the new house and the baby, my hands are pretty busy, 

but i couldn't be happier. 

I am planning a trip to the Brecon Beacons in the near future, which i am super excited about,

Here are some images i snapped on a recent rope access course. I was refreshing my IRATA Level 3's ticket and so was in for a weeks beasting!!

IRATA industrial rope access ropes climbing Blackpool Training TALLON TALON NDT Harness offshore oil and gas north sea 01

I can highly recommended the training over at

C&J training in Blackpool. The training centre comes under the Talon umbrella and John is a great trainer there. 

IRATA, rope access, ropes, climbing, Blackpool, Training, TALLON, TALON, NDT, Lee Ramsden, Photography, Harness, offshore, oil and gas, north sea 05

It was an informative week. I understand a few of you are photographers. This post has no relevance to you? 

But ask your self - How many times are you at work, and at height? up step ladders? on roofs? hanging out of a window? I know even you wedding photographers are guilty of this. This course is not for you, but take some time and look at the working at height guidelines. Hurting yourself is just not worth it. no work - no cash right?

Say your assistant takes a tumble, your insurance will turn their back if nothing is in place. Say good bye to your business, once you pay out the court fee's and the settlement. 

Here is what the HSE say about it. Thanks for reading. 

IRATA, rope access, ropes, climbing, Blackpool, Training, TALLON, TALON, NDT, Lee Ramsden, Photography, Harness, offshore, oil and gas, north sea 03
IRATA, rope access, ropes, climbing, Blackpool, Training, TALLON, TALON, NDT, Lee Ramsden, Photography, Harness, offshore, oil and gas, north sea 04

IRATA level 3.

IRATA industrial rope access training course

Hello,

Well something quite large has happened with my day job.

I am now an IRATA level 3.

IRATA = Industrial Rope Access Trade Association.

After 6 years of working in the oil and gas industry as an electrician on the ropes I have gained the experience and worked my way up to become a working at height safety supervisor.

It certainly makes the job more interesting and has opened up lots of opportunities.

I know this is a photo-blog and readers who follow me will know that from time to time I post some more personal things,

But on a photography note, if there are any photographers who need help with shooting something different and from a different perspective, I can help out and we can achieve your goals… safely.

IRATA industrial rope access training course

Here are a few words explaining what the Level 3 is all about.

Level 3 (Supervisor)

The IRATA Level 3 certificate is the top level in the IRATA certification scheme. The Level 3 takes on the role of Team Leader, Safety Supervisor, Rescue-man and Rigger. Thus far IRATA rope access has an impeccable safety record, this is largely due to the quality of Level 3's in the field.

A level 3 Safety Supervisor shall:

  • Be capable of complete responsibility for work projects
  • Be fully conversant with relevant work techniques and legislation
  • Be able to demonstrate all the skills and knowledge required of levels 1 and 2
  • Have a comprehensive knowledge of advanced rescue techniques
  • Equipment selection, inspection, care and maintenance
  • Operational planning and risk assessment
  • Team Management and responsibilities
  • Hold an appropriate current First Aid Certificate, to show they have undertaken suitable emergency First Aid training. (First Aid requirements vary from company to company)