Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Larry, Thanks for the inside look. That puts the operation in a better perspective. One of my wind tunnel operators put in a period working those rigs while living in New Orleans, and he said it was a very stressful job, though it paid well. Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lawrence Zeitlin" <lrzeitlin at gmail.com> To: "Leica LUG" <lug at leica-users.org> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 11:39 AM Subject: [Leica] IMG: Oil rig tragedy > Luggers who have been paying attention to the news are aware of the > tragedy > of the Transocean drilling rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. > The > rig exploded, burned, and eventually sank in several thousand feet of > water. > The leaking oil will probably cause an environmental catastrophe on the > Gulf > shoreline. Fortunately of the 126 crew aboard, only 11 were lost. This > tragedy was of personal relevance to me. From 1975 through the mid 80s I > served as a consultant to the offshore oil industry and spent considerable > time aboard drill rigs both in the Gulf and in the North Sea. All of us > were > aware of the constant risk of fire and explosion although we tried to put > it > out of our minds. > > > Modern offshore oil drilling rigs are enormous structures with decks twice > the size of a football field. They come in four types; platform rigs which > are perched on towers and anchored to the bottom; jackup rigs which are > large floating barges, towed into position and then raised up to drilling > position by huge jacks; semi submersibles which are floating structures > towed into position, partially filled with water, and held in place by > anchors; and drill ships which are primarily used for deep water > exploration. The Transocean rig was one of the world's largest semi > submersibles. Despite the size and high technology, the rigs only exist to > let a team of rugged men operate drilling equipment similar to that used > on > land. The rigs operate day and night. Each of two shifts works a > backbreaking, labor intensive, 12 hour a day job. Most drill crews work > for > two weeks straight then are airlifted back to shore while another crew > takes > their place. The drill crews need support and maintenance personnel, > cooks, > crane operators, etc. so a compliment of 100 or so persons on a modern rig > is the norm. > > > Looking through my files, I uncovered some pictures I took in 1979 on the > Cognac rig in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the world's largest platform drill > rig, perched on a tower 1025 feet tall over the Cognac oil field. I was > not > there to take pictures so the photos are mostly grab shots taken with a > Rollei 35 on a grey, overcast day. Unspotted. Be charitable. > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/_quot_Tripping_quot_+the+drill+pipe+1.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/_quot_Tripping_quot_+the+drill+pipe+2.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/_quot_Tripping_quot_+the+drill+pipe+3.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/The+derrickman.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Inside+of+derrick.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Derrick+structure.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Elevated+deck+area.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Loading+crane.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Larry+Z+as+crane+operator.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Rescue+capsule.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Discussion+with+the+boss.jpg.html > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/The+valve+room.jpg.html > > > Larry Z > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >