In the UK oil and gas industry, it is a requirement for a standby vessel to be present. These vessels primarily cover helicopter operations and if any work has to be conducted where there is a potential to fail to sea. (known as outboard work). These vessels sit there, day in day out, no matter the weather they provide us with emergency cover and would spring to life and help rescue if the unlikely event ever arose.
Along with practicing emergency exercises, an oil and gas platform regularly tests its emergency equipment. Today we see the helideck fire fighting equipment being tested.
Tannoy being given, to warn all personnel of cascading water and that fire pumps are about to start.
Technician remote starting pumps from different panels.
Today id like to show a few single images. In recent times the Civil aviation has instructed for all UK oil and gas installations to install specific lighting set up on their helidecks, if they require flights in the hours of darkness.
The illuminated helideck against a North Sea sunset makes for quite an interesting image.
Thanks
Lee
Hello,
Today we see another emergency exercise. As you can see in the oil and gas industry we regularly drill and test the emergency response plan.
It is the old adage - fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
It is a legal requirement to have a plan on what to do in an emergency, but does it work?
Testing different scenarios on a regularly basis ensures that the plan works, and keeps the emergency response team skills fresh.
Todays scenario, is in the above image. In this case we are using an inanimate dummy. But it is to practice how to rescue a rope access worker, working under deck.
IRATA rope access technician donning his harness.
The rope access supervisor, using his equipment to haul the pretend casualty up to the deck.
Platform fire team member safely has hands on the practice casualty.
The platform Medic and his first aid team, practice administrating first aid, and using the different types of stretchers required.
Platform medic, coordinates the fire team members on lifting the stretcher and places it into the "frog", to lift the practice casualty from the lower levels of the platform, up to the installation sickbay.
Fire team leader, in communications with the crane operator. They safely lift the practice casualty to the platform sickbay.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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).
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
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
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
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.
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