Rig Life
Fuji X-T1 F4 1/125 ISO1600
A few images taken from a recent trip offshore on the Talisman Auk platform in the North sea.
Fuji X-T1 F7.1 1/125 ISO1600
Fuji XT-1 F5.0 1/125 ISO1600
Fuji X-T1 F1.8 1/125 ISO1600
Fuji X-T1 F1.8 ISO1600
Fuji X-T1 F1.4 1/125 ISO1600
Fuji film X-T1 f4 1/180 ISO400
Morning,
Following last weeks post, i thought id share a couple more images from my time on the Talisman AUK oil and gas rig in the north sea.
Fuji film X-T1 f8 1/180 ISO200
Drilling rig in the distance.
Fuji film X-T1 f10 1/80 ISO1000
Fuji film X-T1 f2 1/80 ISO1000
Electrical inspection of the fire and gas system.
Fuji film X-T1 f2 1/80 ISO1000
Fuji film X-T1 f2.8 1/125 ISO1250
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/30 ISO1250
Fuji film X-T1 f2.8 1/125 ISO1250
If you have enjoyed these oil and gas industry images,
Please feel free to share these posts on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden @ www.leeramsden.com
Many Thanks
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.
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.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/125 ISO200
Helicopter Departures.
Fuji film X-T1 f5.6 1/125 ISO200
Our transport to the platform, ready for action.
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.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/60 ISO800
Flaring off excess gas.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.6 1/60 ISO800
Our office, where the magic happens.
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.
Fuji film X-T1 f1.6 1/60 ISO800
SKN electrical technician.
Fuji film X-T1 f1.6 1/80 ISO800
Electrical inspections being carried out.
Fuji film X-T1 f4 1/60 ISO800
After all that climbing, a cup of tea is required.
Fuji film X-T1 f2.8 1/60 ISO800
Off shift movie time.
Fuji film X-T1 f2.8 1/60 ISO1250
40 year old ensuite rooms.
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
Fuji film X-T1 f8 1/80 ISO200
Morning,
I thought that it has been awhile since i have brought this blog offshore with me, and so today i am posting some pictures of the largest part of working away... The travel.
Next week's post is from the North sea oil platform.
I hope that you enjoy.
Fuji film X-T1 f4.5 1/80 ISO200
Train one of four.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/125 ISO400
My largest company expense is travel.
Each year the prices go up, and the service goes down....
Fuji film X-T1 f8 1/60 ISO200
Train two pulling into the station.
Fuji film X-T1 f9 1/30 ISO200
Train number three
Fuji film X-T1 f18 1/15 ISO200
Unknown back packers. All aboard train four.
Fuji film X-T1 f9 1/30 ISO200
Crossing the forth rail bridge.
Fuji film X-T1 f7.1 1/125 ISO200
Trying to use my time productively and edit some wedding images.
Fuji film X-T1 f4 1/125 ISO320
Arrived Aberdeen station.
Fuji film X-T1 f4.5 1/125 ISO320
Aberdeen has the most expensive taxis in all of Europe. Where you can use the Jet bus, it is cheaper.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/125 ISO800
They said that the hotel is close to the airport.... they are not wrong.
Fuji film X-T1 f3.2 1/60 ISO500
Finally - 8 hours later, 4 trains and a bus i can get some sleep.
And to be honest this is an easy journey. I spent 4 years where i had a train, 5 hours international flight, taxi and then a boat to get to the platform.
Image courtesy google images
Please check next weeks post where i will display some images taken from the above platform.
Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com
Thanks
iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO500
Working in the oil and gas industry I have spent my fair amount of time on the Isles of Shetland.
It has felt like a second home at times, and over the summer of 2014 I was spending more time there than at home.
iPhone 4s 1/270 f.2.4 ISO50
I feel privileged to have had the chance to spend so much time on such a gorgeous island, even with the brutal weather for 9 months of the year, this does not bring the spirit of the local inhabitants down.
The local people that I encountered and worked with, were amazing, lovely people. They appear to have a different look on life and take things in their stride.
Living in such remoteness they have became resourceful with the weekend evening entertainment, with the party busses which tour round the island villages, visiting the bars on a pub crawl - fancy dress in mandatory!
They sell Puffin poo to tourists....it is a delicacy!!
They breed miniature horses,
iPhone 4s 1/1700 f.2.4 ISO50
They dress up as Vikings and after spending a whole year, and thousands of pounds on building the most detailed / intricate wooden boat…. they set fire to it.
iPhone 4s 1/300 f2.4 ISO50
The airport of Scatsta was closed for two days, as an employee was getting married and so all the airport personnel attended the wedding.
iPhone 4s 1/20 f.2.4 ISO160
The island attracts many hill walking enthusiasts and photographers, but it is clear to see why.
With the unique landscapes,
(not a single tree to be seen though as it is too windy and the ground being peat),
migrating puffins, stunning beaches and many different festivals through out the year.
I could happily spend my days later in life, up on a hill, on the Shetland isle away from the problems, hustle and bustle of normal life, enjoying each day as it came.
Fuji X-PRO1 1/600 f.5 ISO 200 at 14mm
Note -
At the present moment in time, if you are looking to visit, I personally would recommend the Isle of Lewis or Skye, only because Shetland is currently having a gas plant being built, with another on the cards and so the main towns are bursting with contractors. If you were to hire a little cottage away from the towns then I am sure you wouldn’t even notice.
iPhone 4s images were taken with the standard camera app and so the meta data shown is not controlled by my self. All images edited using the in phone Snapseed app.
iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO50
iPhone 4s 1/60 f2.4 ISO64
iPhone 4s 1/540 f2.4 ISO50
iPhone 4s 1/2000 f.2.4 ISO50
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iPhone 4s 1/120 f2.4 ISO3200
iPhone 4s 1/15 f.2.4 ISO400
Lumix GF1 1/50 f.8 ISO800
Happy New year every one, and i hope that you have a great 2015.
While you are all out celebrating christmas and the new year, i have been stuck on a 35 year old gas and oil platform in the north sea.
Fly home soon though and will be spending some quality time with the family.
Can... not... wait!!
Here are some images from a cold Ninian South Platform...
Lumix GF1 1/80 f.1.7 ISO400
Lumix GF1 1/100 f.1.7 ISO800
Lumix GF1 1/100 F.1.7 ISO800
Lumix GF1 1/60 f.1.7 ISO400
The dream team. Daz and Phil.
Today we had a motivational speaker in work trying to push a poignant message. - Very interesting and what a gent.
In a horrifying workplace accident, Ken Woodward lost his eyesight as well as his sense of taste and smell. It left his family devastated and his colleagues traumatised.
Like all accidents, it could have been prevented. From that moment on he was determined to do all he could to make sure it didn't happen to anyone else.
Since then, his dedication towards creating positive safety cultures and setting new standards has improved the working lives of thousands of people and changed the way hundreds of organisations operate.
Over the last decade he has become a globally recognised figure, providing people with the awareness, mindset and confidence to comfortably approach occupational safety issues with a fresh perspective.
Astonishingly, in one year alone, he made 112 flights, 19 overseas trips and 285 presentations to stop others being hurt.
I strongly recommend booking him, and watch him help you drive the message to your workforce.
Well that was a nice surprise. I logged into the works email system and found out that i had won their Picture competition.
For those of you who don't know, I'm currently sub contracting to a global oil and gas company called Petrofac, as a health and safety advisor. The project is based on the Shetland Isles, building a gas plant.
Over the internal system a few months ago, a photo competition was announced. So i thought that i would have a punt......
turns out my image of Battersea power station was chosen, out of the 5000+ images that were submitted - as the overall winner!!
Over the moon!
A nice new iPad air on route to the house. Thanks ever so much.
The image was displayed on the intranet home page, and globally sent over email to the 10's of thousands of employees world wide.
If there is a plant manager who wants some professional images of their gas/oil plant, some where warm... please speak up. Ha
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.
Recently i spent a week rebuilding a wind turbine. Interesting work scope seeing the guts of these great machines that line our landscapes.
Apologies for only having iPhone images.
A view of Lancashire from the top.
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 a few images recently taken from a trip offshore with my little GF1.
Its was over 40 degrees in heat and hanging from a rope out in Azerbaijan in the Caspian sea, on the BP Shah deniz Gas rig.
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
Hello all,
Its has been awhile since my last post. I have been very busy with my job abroad over in Baku - Azerbaijan.
In the last 17 weeks I have been back in the UK less then 2 weeks and so i have been run off my feet.
After new year i will be on a rota and have more time off which is good news,
Here are a few images from being offshore over in Baku. The images were taken on my Canon G10.
Azerbaijan on the world map
