industrial
Good morning, I have recently been playing with a 360 camera, here are a couple of stills that i liked from a recent trip offshore.
What do you think about renewable energy?
Share your thoughts in the comments on my instagram @lee_ramsden and explore more of my images to experience the full beauty of offshore wind farms.
Thanks
Lee
Hello,
Today I’d like to share a couple of images of an OSP (offshore substation platform)
I always enjoy, how I can take many photos of the same subject, and with the differing skies and ever-changing weather can change the image.
A derrick is a structure over an oil well which supports the drilling equipment and allows it to be lifted into and out of the wellbore.
The term derrick originates from Thomas Derrick, an English executioner c. 1608.
In English history, the executioner was not a commonly chosen career path because of the risk of friends and families of the deceased knowing who the executioner was and where to find him. Executioners were sometimes coerced into the role. Derrick in particular had been convicted of rape but was pardoned by the Earl of Essex (clearing him of the death penalty) on the condition that he became an executioner at Tyburn.
Derrick executed more than 3,000 people in his career, including his pardoner, the Earl of Essex, in 1601. Derrick devised a beam with a topping lift and pulleys for his hangings, instead of the old-fashioned rope over the beam method.
The word derrick became an eponym for the frame from which the hangman's noose was supported and through that usage (by analogy) to modern-day cranes.
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.
I hope that you have a good weekend.
Lee
Hello,
How are you?
Today id like to share 4 images of an North sea oil and gas platform.
There have been a few images on this blog now and more to come.
I would like to know what your thoughts are on the camera used to take these images?
Ill reveal in the next rig post.
Have a good weekend.
Lee
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.
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
Hello,
Today id like to show some of the IRATA rope access technicians that were involved in the decommissioning of the BP Miller.
Welding on dead weight supports to the risers.
Rope access welder cutting a riser.
Long tiring climb back up.
Rope techs at height happy in their work.
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.
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.
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, briefing his team on a suspected accommodation fire indicated on the panel.
Fire team, updating the leader with information.
Fire team, practicing safe fire door drills.
O.I.M and his Deputy, reading through the Emergency response plan.
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.
The scribe, updates relevant information, like wind direction and sea conditions incase we needed to evacuate.
The BP Miller, has the tallest flare stack in the North Sea, at 162m high,
(4m taller than Blackpool tower)
Caught our breath back, after a lung busted 15 ladder climb.
Image of the Brae Bravo platform, from the top of BP Miller flare.
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
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.
Roast beef, and Yorkshire puddings... must be Sunday!
Talisman Auk Platform – Inside a 40-Year-Old North Sea Oil Rig
The Auk Oilfield sits 249 kilometres east-southeast of Aberdeen in the UK sector of the North Sea, in 182 metres of water. Originally operated by Shell UK in partnership with ESSO, the field was acquired by Talisman Energy in 2006. Production first started in December 1975 from the Auk 'A' platform — a steel eight-legged jacket designed by Shell and constructed at Methil in Fife, Scotland. The jacket weighs 3,414 tonnes and supports a topside weight of around 8,000 tonnes.
Drawing courtesy of google images
By the time these photographs were taken, the platform was approaching its 40th year of operation. That history shows in the structure — worn surfaces, layered pipework, and accommodation that belongs to a different era of North Sea development.
Getting There
Access was by helicopter from Aberdeen, departing from the Bristow terminal. The flight out gives you the first sense of scale — a small steel structure surrounded by open water, then suddenly filling the window as you come in to land.
Our transport to the platform, ready for action.
Working Offshore — Permit to Work
Photography offshore is tightly controlled for good reason. Every task requires a permit to work, and any work near potential ignition sources requires gas testing with a calibrated detector. That process keeps everyone safe and keeps the operation running — it also means any images taken are genuinely earned rather than snapped casually.
Rope Access Operations
Several of the images show IRATA-trained rope access technicians working at height — climbing to work fronts, carrying out electrical inspections, and accessing areas of the platform that would otherwise require scaffolding. The SKN Electrical team on this rotation were using rope access throughout, keeping the work efficient and the footprint small.
Platform Life
The accommodation on a 40-year-old platform reflects its age — functional, compact, and lived-in. Between shifts, the crew room and bunks are the reset point before another 12-hour day. There's a particular kind of quiet offshore that doesn't exist anywhere else.
One final note on the name: the Auk field is named after the auk family of seabirds. There's a long-standing story that the field was originally going to be called A UK — as the first British oilfield — until someone pointed out that the sixth field in the sequence would be called F UK. Shell rapidly moved to a seabird naming policy. Their sixth UK oilfield is called Fulmar.
For more photography from offshore oil and gas projects, visit the Oil & Gas portfolio.
Off shift movie time.
40 year old ensuite rooms.
Bunks fit for a king.
Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com
Thanks, Lee
Hi thought id share with you a few images from my day job, up here in the Shetland isles. We are building a gas plant, currently 2500 guys on site. Mad times.
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!!
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.
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.
Here are some images taken at night while offshore at work. These images believe it or not are taken with the Lumix GF1, i would never have been able to have taken these with the Canon G10. The quality is superb!
A self Portrait.
Happy Christmas from Me,
I hope that you are all having a great festive period while im away working.
Catch you in the new year.
Lee