Oil Rig Photos - The hull of the Hutton TLP

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Oil Rig Photos

No: 1709 Contributor: Andrew Dowsett Companies: Conoco Philips Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom

The hull of the Hutton TLP - 2009

The Conoco Hutton TLP was the first tension leg platform. The hull was built at Highland Fabricators yard at Nigg on the Cromarty Firth, north Scotland in the early 1980s. The deck section was built at Mcdermott's yard at Ardersier, a few miles across the water, and the two were mated together in the Moray firth off Findhorn.

The hull has now returned to the firth, having been decommissioned. The deck section was removed in Murmansk, northern Russia. Pictures of the deck section can be seen in picture #84 and picture #1681.

Garve Scott-Lodge

Picture added on 27 March 2009 at 08:37

Comments:

This indeed is sad as this was the first offshore oil installation that I worked on. I was lucky to be on all three phases Nigg, Ardersier and Moray firth mate up.

Added by Jamie Mc Gillivray on 14 September 2009.

I also worked at Highland Fabricators in the early 1980's on the Conoco TLP. First I worked at the pipemill then got moved down to the graving dock. I was a gouger/burner and lived in Alness for 8 years. I am 56 now and live in Leeds. I have very fond memories working there. I would like to get a photo of the Conoco TLP and the graving dock
at Highfab - I would be over the moon if that would be possible.

[Editor's note: John, do have a look at the Scotland's Rig Yards website.]

Added by John Douglas Mcgill on 29 January 2011.

Brilliant site guys, just found it, I worked at Ardersier as an apprentice electrician for electrical contractor Malcolm and Allan from Glasgow, first visit was 1979/80 on North Cormorant modules and the Hutton TLP, I spent around fifteen years on and offshore (construction and maintenance, production and drilling)/fab yards etc with a spell on /nuclear power stations before moving to New Zealand, in Australia at present looking for opportunities as the world needs our talents and experience more than ever, keep up the good work guys

Added by Ronnie Stewart on 25 May 2011.

My God this brings back memories, I was an MPI Inspector on the hull sections in Nigg in 1983, my first job in the industry, finally ended up as a QA Manager having travelled the world in Oil & Gas construction, currently with Oman Oil in Muscat, and living in Malaysia for the last 22 years! Fond memories and hi to anyone that remembers me. I was with Fircroft seconded to MAPEL and worked initially in the fab shops before moving over to the west side and finally the graving dock.

Added by Mike Deere on 16 July 2011.

I shall always remember the absurd number of NDT personnel that were required for the MPI and the hull retest work after all the questionable work from Mitsui came to light..great memories of my days in the crazy NDT crews at Nigg and Kishorn working for MAPEL... unforgettable as best I can remember... after mucho roaming the globe I am now settled and still working in NDT on and offshore in Norway..the work situation is very healthy and I am lucky enough to get short overseas work trips as well.. all the best to any of my Nigg and Kishorn NDT comrades who may read this.. those were great times !!

Added by Ian E Kennedy on 23 September 2011.

United Kingdom