Barbara

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 11:34

I'm in the middle of the Atlantic right now, and we're taking a battering. Probably just the start of it. 65Kts wind, 10m waves.

How bad is it for you where you are?

..

Some video

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 12:59

I think it's just Scotland and NI that's getting this one.

challengedavid said:
any pictures OP?

I'll try to get a wee video later if we get some proper rollers coming in.

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 15:08

Got some rollers heading in now. No-one getting home for Crimbo.

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 16:03

shifty_uk said:
That sucks, are you normally transported by chopper?

What a view though! Probably think differently if I was stuck there..

Yea, we crew change by helicopter. I'm not due off until January anyway, but some of the guys were due home yesterday.

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 20:34

bingham67 said:
What happens to them then extra days off or do they have to suck it up?

They need to suck it up, although they do get an extra day's pay for each day they are stuck on. Their back to backs get Christmas off now, and don't lose any pay.

George Hincapie said:
Is the rig secured to the sea bed? How high can the waves be before you're in trouble?

I am currently watching 'Deep Water Horizon' hence the interest.

Yes it's secured to the sea bed, and there's 20 wells drilled so it only rocks around a little. Before all the wells were drilled it would sway all over the place because the jacket is designed to flex else the tubular steel would just snap in weather like this.

The waves you see in the video are around 12 metres, it's 18 metres now and forecast for over 20 metres tomorrow. We are currently all inside and not permitted out until the wind comes down (gusting 80kts right now). The wind is more dangerous than the waves as I'm not sure it's even possible for a wave to reach out lowest deck.

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 21:18

Tone1979 said:
80 knots?!

that is 20 knots more than a hurricane!

It's gusting 81kts right now, with swell at 16 metres.

Dirk Diggler · 23 Dec 2016 at 21:22

14c for Christmas Day... That's unreal.

Dirk Diggler · 24 Dec 2016 at 04:58

I took the video with an intrinsic camera.

Wave height is now double what it was on that video, probably going to exceed 25m today which is over 80ft. If it's safe to go out I'll try to get some photos or video as there'll be some cracking rollers. We only see storms like this one maybe once a year, if that.

It makes for cool story bro, but not getting much sleep with this commotion going on. :mad:

Dirk Diggler · 24 Dec 2016 at 05:28

RoboCod said:
Headphones/earplugs are top of your packing list, surely?

They can't stop the cabin from shaking!

Dirk Diggler · 24 Dec 2016 at 12:47

It's proper mental now. I couldn't even hold the camera steady.

Dirk Diggler · 24 Dec 2016 at 13:37

Spacedeck said:
What's your job on the rigs? Looks mad enough, get back inside before you're blown over the railings

I'm a professional malingerer, just like all who take part in the GD section of this forum.

And yea, sound advice. There'll be no more movies from me... I'm staying in until at least Boxing Day.

Dirk Diggler · 24 Dec 2016 at 15:56

pastymuncher said:
Can you feel it through the rig much? I would presume you can feel it vibrating?

It's pounding the place, and yea the platform is rocking all over the shop. This is one of the worst storms I've seen in 15 years offshore.

70ft swells now! :eek:

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 13:47

The food containers made it on before the storms, so it's all good *burrrp*.

Merry Christmas to you all. Be merry, be safe.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 13:58

RoboCod said:
Maybe a silly question, but is alcohol permitted there String?

Not a drop, unfortunately.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 17:37

27th, weather permitting.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 17:46

Red is out of limits, amber is borderline. So mostly northern North Sea, central and south looks fine.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 17:55

It's an online service which enables me to view live weather data on every platform in the UK. It requires user account access.

The crew that got held over Christmas can't go off until the oncoming crew arrive. I'm due home on January 3rd so I'm not too bothered.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 18:02

kiteloopy said:
Those video's are mental!

Yea, just a bit.

In the second video, near the end you can see the 6" rubber Umbilicals being blown about like shoe laces... it betrays how heavy they actually are. They have been battered off the stairwell and damaged the protection on it.

Tomorrow's forecast is just as bad, but on the plus side no-one's done a stroke of work for 4 days.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 18:08

Rroff said:
There is one on youtube somewhere - think its been linked here before - which is even worse.

EDIT:

probably not that much worse actually but the perspective shows it off more.

That's similar weather to what we are experiencing right now, but would feel much worse for those on-board as the sway and swell is just constant. I've experienced that on the Janice and you actually bump into walls just walking down the corridor when the weather is like that. It's comical having a shower on a platform like that as it's such a little space you're having to put your hands out to stop falling into the wall!

Dirk Diggler · 25 Dec 2016 at 18:38

Rroff said:
I wondered what those things flying across were for a moment thought birds and then was like nah.

They are, it's Gulls. Unbelievably hardy.