Fire team emergency response exercise.

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. 

Offshore control room, emergency exercise.

Hello, 

Over the next couple of posts, ill like to show the different roles involved in the unlikely event of an emergency occuring. Today I will start with the control room. 

The alarms have sounded, and a scenario has been set. Everyone on board the platform is making their way to their allocated muster points, 

For exercise - We have a missing person and the O.I.M is briefing the emergency response team and what actions they are to take and provide them with information. 

For exercise, for exercise - the O.I.M keeps all persons on board updated on the situation. 

The scribe regularly logs the situation and ties all the information together in one place, to make it easier for the manager to make their decisions. 

The O.I.M and his Deputy O.I.M, reading through the Emergency response plan, making descisions on what actions are required. 

Highest point in the north sea.

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. 

Crane operator, working the supply vessel.

Hello, 

Today ill like to show how an oil rig offloads new supplies, which range from equipment, tools and most importantly food! 

While it is down to the crane operator to offload the containers from the supply vessel, it is all orchestrated by the offshore materials coordinator. 

The materials controller duties:

• Arranging for the despatch and delivery of materials and goods
• Making sure that materials and equipment have the necessary certification.
• Ensuring that relevant stores are aware of deliveries and that they allocate space for goods on arrival.
• Chasing up suppliers to ensure goods and materials are delivered on time to meet business needs.
• Maintaining the materials management system.
• Preparing reports on materials receipt and delivery and on the performance of suppliers
• Acting as a focal point for suppliers and internal departments for questions about materials scheduling, problems, and the like.

Norwegian supply vessel crew, unhooking the containers. 

Oil rig boxing.

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.

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! 

Thanks

Lee

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BP Miller decommissioning core crew.

This fine body of men.... 

Are one half of the Petrofac core crew involved with the mammoth task of decommissioning and removing a north sea oil rig. While this crew is offshore, our opposite numbers are at home on leave. 

This group is made up of the management, technical authorities, and lead technicians, that are required on board to keep a rig running safely.

Petrofac O.I.M.

Petrofac Project Manager.

Petrofac Project Manager.

The above, were the Petrofac offshore management for the project, all with different attributes and experiences, but all shared one key value - people skills.

You can be the most knowledgeable leader, but if your team are not supporting you, then you might as well give up.

These gents led by example, with integrity, and support. When the chips were down, could pick the whole team back up. Inspirational. 

Now we called in back to backs and so all the core crew now on board, for the task of shutting down the platform. A mammoth task, completed with safety at the forefront and ahead of the schedule.  

Offshore - O.I.M

The Petrofac O.I.M for the BP Miller decommissioning project.  

The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) is the most senior manager of an offshore platform operating on the UKCS.

Many offshore operators have adopted this UK offshore management model and title and applied it to their operations in all global regions irrespective of the local regulations in force.

In the UK the individual must be officially registered as an OIM with the Offshore Safety Division of the Health and Safety Executive and the OIM is responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the personnel on board the installation, whether a drilling rig, production platform or a support vessel (e.g. a flotel).

Thanks

Lee

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Rig removal. North sea.

North sea oil and gas rig.

Hello, long time no see...

Well... Hello, its been a while. 

Lets catch up, 

Most will know, that my day job is working in the oil and gas industry.

Since January i have been involved with the decommissioning of a north sea oil and gas rig, called the BP Miller. 

The picture taking had to take a back seat. The next post will explain in more detail what the project entails. 

But stick around, i have uploaded lots of content which will be coming out on a weekly basis, a new post every Sunday. 

So please subscribe, and follow the story and images of life offshore in the oil and gas industry on a decommissioning project. 

Thanks

Lee

Manchester Airport.

Good Morning, 

As most are aware with my day job, i spend half my life at airports traveling. And so this time i brought my little Fuji X-T1 along for a ride, and took some shots while i was awaiting to board the plane. 

Thanks

Lee

Electronic shutter vs Mechanical shutter.

Hi,

just a quick one as i am sure a lot of you are more experienced with this than myself. 

Whilst traveling to work i was taking some pictures on the flight. To avoid the cabin crew scowl i turned the Fuji X-T1's shutter from Mechanical to electronic. 

It is permanently set on the Mechanic mode, as in the past, i accidentally put it onto electronic and it would not fire the off camera flashes. To prevent that happening again, it is a setting i do not change. 

This occasion due to the silence of the electronic shutter, it would be a perfect solution.

Just for a demonstration and comparison, as i didn't want to take pictures of the planes propellers.

Have a look at the two images. The top image is the conventional mechanical shutter. And the lower is the electronic. I found it really interesting how the shutters create different images. 

Thanks

View from Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool football club Bloomfield road.

Hi following on from my last post. I thought i would share some images taken from the top of Blackpool tower. 

Pleasure beach. 

Winter Gardens Theatre.

Funny Girls burlesque cabaret showbar.

Roof tops.

Lancashire Ambulance service.

A towns taxi cab.

Offices.

Lytham road B5262.

Top of Blackpool Tower.

Have you ever wondered,  - how do they maintain the iconic lights on Blackpool Tower?

Well meet Wez Berry, the lighting engineer that looks after the famous Blackpool Tower and regularly abseils 518 ft down the iconic landmark, to ensure its computer-operated 225,000 LED bulbs are in working order.

The day starts early to catch the lift to the top. 

Wez's workplace has a view like no other. 

“You're your own boss up here, You can crack on and do your own work.”

The location is extremely weather dependent, with extreme winds and rain meaning it simply isn't safe to scale the Tower's dizzy heights. 

“If the weather's nice, we're on, and I'll work through weekends and bank holidays,” 

“The wind really does restrict us and you have to look at the forecast very carefully."

“You've got to come into work safe and go home safe – it's very much safety first and I always have a rope access supervisor in case anything happens to me up there."

"We work closely with CJIS-LTD who provide the highly trained rope access supervisors who manage the working at height, utilising IRATA techniques"

Wez -"we're working off 100 metre ropes. It doesn't scare me because whether its 20 feet or 500 feet there's no messing about and you've got to give it the same respect.”

Even when the lighting engineer is at home, he can see the Tower from his back window and he'll often get a call from work mates asking him to check on the lights.

“Plus everyone round here knows what I do, they love to criticise and tell me if they see a light out,”.

The tallest light fitting in Lancashire. 

The top is a mecca for tourists, who flock to the terrifying glass floor known as the SkyWalk. Often, they will catch a glimpse of Wez hanging underneath.

To illustrate just how high todays worksite was. 

For more information on how to conduct working at height safely please use the contacts page. 

If you are or interested in becoming a rope access technician or require additional training i can recommend this training venue Based in Blackpool. 

Thanks

Lee

Designer Cake making.

Good Morning, 

Here are some images of cakes that my better half has made. 

Some of the later images are poor iPhone snaps but i had to show off her amazing talent as i am immensely proud of her and i am sure you will be impressed. 

All cakes are her design and made by hand. 

If you would like a bespoke cake making for an event then please use the contact page and Kelly will get back to you. 

A military wedding with inspiration taken from the ceramic poppy display at the Tower of London. The  medals on the couples mess dress are copied from a photo and are very accurate. 

Every single poppy was created by hand and glued on. - all edible. 

The couples military cap badges, created out of icing - both are edible. 

Attention to detail. The spacing between layers has to be bang on. 

Birthday cake with icing figures.

All edible, apart from the pink, blue ribbons & wooden sticks

Christening cake, with icing figure.

Apart from the beads, all edible including the figure and icing lace work. 

More examples of icing lace decoration, used on a wedding cake.

The Walking Dead inspired birthday cake. 

The head and fingers on the walking dead cake, all made from icing.

Lytham St Annes Kite Festival.

iPhone 6 image

Playing around with the Mrs iPhone 6. The level of detail compared to my old beat up iPhone 4 is impressive. Certainly interested in up grading to a new phone.

Fstoppers - recently tested an iPhone against an older DSLR. Agree or disagree with their method of testing. The phone cameras and software are certainly improving to an impressive level.

There also appears to be a lot of hype online with the forthcoming Kodak Ektra smart phone,  with a camera of  21 megapixel Sony made sensor and f2.0 lens - if the stats are accurate then the camera is something that some may choose over the iPhone. 

Cheers

Lee

Drone Photography.

Good afternoon, 

I recently worked with a drone company based in Chesire, 

 www.aerialaperture.co.uk

They sent over some RAW image files for me to edit, for a golf club client of theirs. 

I have been on the sideline for some time with the popularity of the drones. Although the video quality is improving year on, If i am honest i was very sceptical of the image stills quality. Plus for a decent kit it is a very large investment.

5 RAW files used to create the final first image. All shot with the DJI inspire drone.

I was certainly impressed with the quality of the stills, and the machine can shoot in DNG RAW files which are nice to work with. The out of camera files are as you can see a little flat. But that is ideal for a professional editor like myself. I can then use the multiple exposure files to edit together and create a piece which stands out, retains information and adjustable to the clients needs / tastes. 

Without viewing the drone in action i can only speculate, but it does appear that these bracketed RAW images are fired off in a rapid burst. (in the golf course images there are people moving which gave me a good idea of the time.)

If you are a drone photographer / operator and are looking to improve on the quality of the stills that you are producing for your clients, then please use the contact page and we can sort out an editing training package.

Also if you require any aerial imagery then i can recommend Aerial Aperture. 

"Aerial Aperture operates with Permissions for Aerial Work (PFAW) approved by the Civil Aviation Authority and we are fully insured to carry out unmanned aircraft operations across the UK.

Our aerial photography drone services cover a wide spectrum of capabilities which include; aerial photo services, property/land imagery, drone surveying, aerial view maps, drone industrial inspections, agricultural surveying, drone weddings, events, media and promotions. 

 Our goal for every project is to capture material that is of the highest quality whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety. For every job we undertake, we carry out a series of detailed assessments to ensure safe and reliable operations. We tailor our services to each customer's individual needs. - Justin of Aerial Aperture." 

Any questions or a friendly chat about drone photography, please contact me. 

Thanks

Lee

Lytham St Annes Wedding.

Good morning, A few images from a recent wedding. 

Congratulations Maia and Martin.