Worked as derrickman on first exploration well 2/11-18 then Signal Oil and Gas was operator on the rig Bluewater 3 summer 1972. Happy carefree days. Aberdeen was alive and booming and not ruled by company bean counters. Returned to Thistle Alpha 1978 on rig 111 as driller for short spell, did not care much for the work, too many graduate trainees with no experience telling one how to drill the well.Thanks for the memories.
Added by Fraser Hepburn on 26 January 2010.
My last trip on Thistle Alpha was November '78 with Santa Fe... 111, Roy..? drller, as I recall, Pete Slack derrickman on 112 . Alan / OX4.
I retired at the age of 65 from this platform got a good send off that was in the year 2000, I still keep in touch with some of the lads happy days.
Added by Dougie Meikle on 13 February 2010.
I watched from the "Blue Dolphin" as the Thistle "A" was floated into position. (1976) There was a fire started by a gas cutter on the hydraulics module on the same day as it was placed. Actually the platform was never landed in the intended position.
Santa Fe had two purpose built drilling rigs built to drill the foundations and they were 42 inch holes (I cannot remember to what depth) The foudations were drilled using 11 inch pipe with reverse circulation. Each Rig drilled foundations on two corners of the platform. There are 16 foundations on each corner making a total of 64 in all. Shortly after the founation work began there was a fatal accident which involved a "Pedestal Type" crane literally snapped off at the base and the crane driver was killed.
Also I suspect that the platform is still being held in place by at least one worker who went missing mysteriously. The worker was last seen pissing down a foundation coller. As derekman I was instructed to keep a close watch on the shakers for anything out of the ordinary.
I have several photos of this time on the Thistle but sadly I lost quite a lot of my pictures. If any body has any pics of this period I would like to see them.
So to sum up ... There have been two fires on the Thistle "A" It is not in the position which was intended At least two fatalities during construction I
I was on the Thistle Alpha as a mudlogger in 1978-79 - my first ever rig or trip offshore. To Alan Carter: the 'Roy' (driller) you are thinking of was, I believe, Roy Townhill (sadly, died in mid '90s, so I was told.) I also remember drillers Bob Meadows and Larry Mucinek (spelling?) and co. men Bill Jones, 'Bunny' Bigg-Wither and John Thorogood.
The pit rooms were semi-open, I remember, and very cold. I spent part of the time living on the Gulnare (accommodation semi-sub) which was moored alongside. Also remember only too well the tremendous storm in September 1978 when hurricane Flossie made it across the Atlantic and rejuvenated right over Thistle A ... 150 knot winds that night.
Added by Andy on 14 July 2010.
I spent 5 years with Santa Fe on TA. Started as roustabout and worked my way up to Derrick hand. Left rig in 86. Drillers I worked for; Mad Mick Macfarlane, Farmer, Hawkeye, Robb Big Foot. Sorry to read that Roy has passed away he was a good guy.
I was on the Songa Star accomodation rig next to Thistle A in the early eighties. My uncle was a well respected by all chief steward, who called everybody "Mucker". His name was Frank Barnes. He had a blood clot in his lung, was told by doctor to go to hospital ASAP. When he got there, they said it was something else, sent him home, he was dead in the morning. RIP Uncle Freddie!
I was working on the Thistle A as an electrician for Balfour Kilpatrick in 1977/78. I enjoyed working on this rig. I transfered to the piper Alpha and worked there until April 1979.
I worked on Thistle Alpha from 1988-1993 as HLO & Heli-admin. Was first female to work on Thistle & 1st female HLO in NNS. I have lots of very fond memories of the Thistle, what it lacked in looks was made up for by the guys that worked onboard. Everyone from the top to the bottom just got on with it. Too many names to mention but recognise a few mentioned above. Sorry to hear about Roy he was gent.
Added by Lesley Duncan (nee Jones) on 26 September 2010.
Headed off there on Mon as a Wireline trainee, from what I hear its a bit of a dump but the craic is fantastic. looking forward to my trip.
Added by Ross on 27 November 2010.
Remember Lesley Jones on her first trip and a couple after that before I departed. We had to install seperate shower facilities etc as at that time it was communal showers on Thistle. For some reason she didn't fancy it....poor girl.
Added by Andy Gill on 29 November 2010.
I remember Leslie on the Black Pig she was the HLO. Did her job well and joined in the spirit of things, after that we had Chas, (safety) and Wendy (medic).
Added by Dougie Meikle on 09 December 2010.
Hi I spent a total of 6 years on Thistle. I remember most of the details above. I was there during the first weight reduction programme. At that time Mike O'mara was building the Hyperbaric Diving and lifeboat system. Wynn Chote was responsible for sub sea, Infabco and 2W were the diving companies on board. Frankie Miller Spike, Ged, Mick Bob and Neil were the crane operators. John Meadows, Clive Ashley, Larry Much, Jackson, Solomon, Mick Quinn, Charlie Goldie, John Wrenn, Davy Tough were some of the drilling team but not all. John Severn was the maintenance super, Spug was his assistant. Mick Fullerton Tom Whitehead and John and Mike Thelan were the Schlumberger team. Tim Warren, Davey Shepheard Garven Anderson, Barry Curwen, Sean O'Hara, Dave Cocklin, Wally Jenkins were the deck crew. John, Tony. Eric were the Marine, Dougie, Brian and Ian were the materials controllers. I remember the night we lost Mr Enerstadt. He washed crushed by a 6 ton hellifuel tank on the Olav Viking He died on the way to the Brent hospital.
Then there was the Infabco incident. We waited as the time ran out for the two divers lost in their breakaway diving bell. Always best to check your shackles are secured. A diving bell is not safe hanging on it's umbilical chord.
I remember when the 111 cat walk extension collapsed and 6 men received very serious injuries when they were thrown onto the the skid deck. I was busy moving stretchers on the Billy Pugh to the sick bay that day. That would be Norman Terry and Stewart Whittaker medic, (Sorry for the spelling.
I remember the gas explosion in the tunnel between the rigs. I remember the cause. Conflict of PTW in two area's I was surprised to hear about the case about Cancer I remember the radioactive behaviour of Thistle Alpha I fell out with them for trying to get us to work inside tanks lined with LSA. They got some other poor git to do the dirty work. I worked in the Deck crew with Tim Warren we were good mates.
I remember the night we named the Thistle after Captain Pugwash's Boat Yeh I'm responsible for naming the platform by it's better known name the Black Pig. We had a great atmosphere on board, have I forgotten anyone? Yes loads, Lab techs, Ian and Mike, I remember when we were issued with the French fire helmets and we became known as the Jedi. Fred Whikens, John Mcdonald, Jim Bell in admin, Wade , Jim, Dave, Peter OIM's. Yes the Thistle brings back memories mostly good ones.
I spent my first trip offshore on Thistle Alpha as a construction inst tech in 1978 when the water injection & gas compression projects were going on. We had the Gulnare alongside as an accomodation barge. Frankie Knight was one of the techs I worked with. The crack was magic as were the blokes who were handing it out, the inst construction sup'v there called Alan Davenport, top bloke from the Teeside area who would often come to South Shields for a few beers together. From the Thistle I moved over to Ninian North for the hook up which was another good job for the crack, huddled around the transformers on the wellhead area trying to get warm.
My first trip, was on the Thistle. Started early 1988(Just before, Piper A incident.) and finished late 1989. I worked for Chalk Catering, my first taste of off-shore. Worked with a great bunch of lads and enjoyed most the time I was out there. (Except xmas. :( ) I use to work in the Mess Hall and got to meet most people onboard.Had some great banter, in that mess hall and galley. I think the medic onboard, was called Victor? Rig didn't look good, but the crew were great. Happy days. If anybody remembers me, get back to me?
I worked alongside the Thistle whilst under construction on the what I thought was called the Belford Dolphin before the Gulnare docked the other side - met a load of great guys on there in 77.
Your right Kev Belford Dolphin, I still have some photo's of it. The "Dolphin" was along side from day one. The platform was placed in about August 76 (as I recall) Santa Fe had a yard in Leith and the equipment was loaded in Leith and sent out on barges. We followed close behind and were accomidated on the "Dophin" while they got all of their modules secured to the platform. Interesting days and very dark nights.
Added by Barry Bitossi on 19 October 2011.
Worked on thistle from float out to first oil, as rigging supervisor on Belford Dolphin/Gulnaire/DB 100/Sea Troll. I remember the Acker 100 ton crane incident it was lost trying to pull one of the main piles up, it should have been pulled by the 200 ton crane, but that had broken down, someone in thier wisdom decided to use the Acker pedistal crane instead. I was employed by Humberoak and then Tokola, an American company, along with Wyn Choate and others....
Hey Ray I remember you very well. Wyn Choate too. Diving guy. Cyril, Gravesend team. Chuck Hill, Mr Ohara and his brother Sean. Hope you are doing well Ray.
Added by Anon on 07 November 2011.
I was off on leave when the pedistal crane snapped at the base and from memory the driver lost his life. I have some photos somewhere of the remains of the crane. Great sadness.
Eddy Sims was my friend and he was a pusher on the opposite shift to me. I believe Ed was killed in an accident in Aberdeen while I was in New Zealand on a flying visit. If anybody knows what happened to Ed I would like to hear from them.
Added by Gavin Brooks on 11 October 2009.